In the absence of Winx, Chris Waller has still won the Group Two Apollo Stakes at Randwick with Endless Drama giving the trainer a particularly satisfying result.
Instead of running in Saturday’s Apollo (1400m), Winx showed off her wares in a special trial on the course proper against several stablemates.
In the real thing, Endless Drama, the $4.20 favourite, finally showed the talent that made him a Group One performer in Europe when he ran down Global Glamour ($5) to win by a long head.
Since arriving in Australia, Qatar Racing’s Endless Drama has had a mixed time, spending almost a year from the track away recovering from a hock injury.
He was a close third in the Listed Carrington Stakes on January 27, a result that haunted his trainer.
“This is a good consolation and it puts him on the path to the Doncaster,” Waller said.
“He is starting to get back to being a commercial stallion.”
Waller also trained the third placegetter, Comin’ Through ($7.50) who was having his first start as a gelding.
“I will talk to Sir Owen (Glenn) but I think he will be going to the Doncaster as well,” he said.
Comin’ Through’s jockey Jason Collett said he thought he was in a winning position at the top of the straight.
“I was pretty confident when I pulled him out at the top of the straight,” he said.
“He seemed to loom up. I don’t know if his condition just told late.”
Addictive Nature, the only three-year-old in the weight-for-age race, eased from $3.60 favouritism to $4.60 and eventually finished fifth after being unable to lead Global Glamour.
“He raced well. He was right there, but obviously it’s always hard taking on the older horses,” jockey Adam Hyeronimus said.
“Back to his own age and over a bit further he’ll be able to bowl along and be very competitive.”
Endless Drama’s European form includes a second to Gleneagles in the 2015 Irish Two Thousand Guineas and a third in the Lockinge Stakes.
Dual Group One winner Global Glamour will continue her path to the Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 17.
Jockey Rachel King said the early effort told on the mare.
“I just had to do a bit of work early which probably cost her the win,” she said.”
“I needed the post 50 metres out and it just kept getting further away.
