A strategy devised nearly six months ago is beginning to pay dividends for trainer Chris Waller after Sadler’s Lake won the Rough Habit Plate at Doomben on Saturday.
Waller put a circle around the Brisbane carnival for Sadler’s Lake when the gelding won his first race at a Canterbury midweek meeting in December.
Sadler’s Lake
“I’ve had the Queensland Derby in mind for him after he won a couple of races during the off-season in Sydney and he’s starting to head in the right direction,” Waller said.
Sadler’s Lake will be aiming to emulate older stablemate Hawkspur who won the Rough Habit two years ago before going on to complete the triple crown by winning the Grand Prix and Queensland Derby at his next two starts.
“He’s a similar type to Hawkspur in that he’s a step below the really good horses but still good enough to win these types of races,” Waller said.
“I think he’s a pretty handy horse but he’s been on wet tracks and on a better surface today he showed a good turn of foot.”
Sadler’s Lake gave Waller an early double following the win of Ballet Suite in the Princess Stakes.
Jockey Blake Shinn took up the front on Sadler’s Lake ($3.60) and the son of High Chaparral was never headed, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths from Upham ($4.80) with the favourite Jumbo Prince ($3.40) three quarters of a length away away third.
“He had to do a bit of work early to find the lead but he toughed it out well and it’s good signs going forward to the Derby,” Shinn said.
Toowoomba trainer Michael Nolan was happy with the run of Jumbo Prince but concedes the colt’s racing pattern isn’t helping.
“In two weeks time in the Grand Prix it’s probably going to be run the same way which will make it hard for him,” he said.
“We don’t want to mess with his pattern because he’s attacking the line but maybe with a good barrier next time he can settle a little bit closer.”
