Gai Waterhouse might be in Europe but the trainer has made her presence felt at home with feature winners in Sydney and Brisbane.
Just 10 minutes after Tullamore upset raging favourite Glass Harmonium in Saturday’s Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm, Squamosa signalled he was on track for carnival riches later this year with an explosive victory in the Listed June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick.
Waterhouse was on the Belgian leg of her European tour which includes next week’s Royal Ascot meeting and son Tom’s wedding in Sicily at the end of the month.
While Tullamore ground down Glass Harmonium in the staying test in Brisbane, Squamosa outsped his opponents from the start, living up to his $2 favouritism with a 4-3/4 length victory over Ladys Angel ($4.40) who had been first emergency for the Stradbroke Handicap at the Eagle Farm meeting.
That Group One race had also been a target for Squamosa but wet tracks put paid to his chances of being fully fit for the race.
“He is still only 75 to 80 per cent fit,” stable representative Bruce Slade said.
“We had been trying to get him fit for the Stradbroke but ran out of time when he couldn’t trial because of the wet tracks.
“The Takeover Target at Gosford will be the next start and then there are plenty of other races later.
“I couldn’t believe his gate speed even though Nash Rawiller said after he trialled him he had never ridden one that goes that quick early.
“He is a serious stallion prospect and it’s a great day also for Star Thoroughbreds with Tullamore winning in Brisbane.
“I’m excited for the spring.”
Squamosa won his first three starts last winter and ended his campaign with a game second to Toorak Toff in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on August 28.
He suffered a series of setbacks and missed racing over the summer and autumn.
Jim Cassidy took the reins on Squamosa and said the colt had the race in his keeping from the start.
“It’s good to feel a bit of power again, I’ve been riding a few slow ones,” he said.
“He is frightening when he’s right.
“He’ll be going to Melbourne in the spring for sure and the sky’s the limit for him.”
Squamosa’s next assignment will be the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on June 24.
Both Squamosa and Tullamore are raced by Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds syndication.
Christian Reith, who rode the runner-up, said he thought he was a chance, albeit briefly.
“I got to within three-quarters of a length but he released the brakes and put another two lengths on me in two bounds,” Reith said.
“She went brilliantly but we ran into one that could be pretty special.”
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