Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina might be set for a round two clash with stablemate Aelina in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington but Chris Waller will also have his hands full in Sydney with several promising colts.
Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton headlines the trainer’s team for the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m), a crucial lead-up to the Golden Rose, while the unbeaten Autumn Boy will be his main act in the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
The former resumed with a cracking second to Raging Force in last month’s San Domenico Stakes (1100m) when he was chopped out of a run over the final stages and after several Group placings as a juvenile, Waller is hoping he gets his turn in the sun.
“As a two-year-old, (he raced) without much luck, so it was nice to see him come back like that,” Waller said.
“We know he’s going to improve with a bit of distance.”
Former James Cummings-trained colt Beiwacht had his first start for the stable in the San Domenico, finishing third after racing wide and without cover in an encouraging return.
Waller was pleased to see him land a low draw in barrier four with a view to testing his Golden Rose credentials.
“If he settles from a good draw, he could go there as well,” Waller said.
“He’s a very nice horse. A professional horse. He’s a very good type and he is already a Group Two winner. He’s got a box left to tick and that’s a Group One.”
J J Atkins runner-up Hidden Achievement is set to resume in The Run To The Rose, although his chances have been dealt a blow by a wide gate in 16, while stablemate Sixties has been scratched from the shorter three-year-old feature and will instead clash with Autumn Boy in the Ming Dynasty.
Autumn Boy was faultless in his first preparation, which yielded a debut win at Canterbury over 1200m in June and 1400m Listed victory at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Waller believes he will stretch even further in distance and the colt is being set for some of the biggest three-year-old races of the spring
“He’s by The Autumn Sun and he got a mile easily, so it’s exciting,” Waller said.
“We’d like to run him in the Golden Rose but Saturday will tell us more and then it would be nice to be running in a Caulfield Guineas.”
