The first day of spring belonged to Gai Waterhouse at Rosehill on Saturday as the champion trainer signalled her carnival intentions with a winning treble, brought up by Glencadam Gold in the Premier’s Cup.
A well-judged front-running ride from Tommy Berry helped the imported Glencadam Gold who kicked strongly over the concluding stages to defeat the Chris Waller-trained trio of Permit, Stout Hearted and The Verminater in the 1800m Listed event.
Glencadam Gold’s victory as the well-backed $2.80 favourite came after the brilliant first-up win of unbeaten colt Pierro in the Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m) and the earlier win from up-and-coming three-year-old Proisir.
“It’s a great way to start the spring. That’s exactly the right way to describe it,” Waterhouse said after Glencadam Gold’s victory.
“This is such an exciting stayer in the making. He could go on to some really good things.”
Glencadam Gold, purchased from England last year, will try to qualify for the Melbourne Cup and could have his next start in the Group Three Newcastle Cup (2300m).
“Why not have a go (at the Melbourne Cup). If we don’t get there, we don’t get there,” Waterhouse said.
Berry took Glencadam Gold to the front and got the stayer into a rhythm before calling on the whip to keep the gelding’s mind on the job over the final 200m.
He defeated Permit by 1-3/4-lengths with a half-neck to Stout Hearted in third.
“The only reason I used the whip was that he wanted to wait for everything,” Berry told Waterhouse.
“He still would have won but he would have only won by a head.
“He’s a pretty serious stayer.”
Waterhouse dominated the autumn carnival in Sydney with seven Group One wins including three apiece to Pierro and More Joyous, and Saturday showed the trainer is set to be a force once again this spring.
Waller, meanwhile, said he was leaning towards running Stout Hearted again in the Wyong Cup on Friday.
“Obviously I would have liked to have won the race but I think all three showed they are heading in the right direction,” Waller said.