Harry Herbert’s first visit to Sydney could not have been scripted better, with the horse he syndicated in two hemispheres cementing his place in the Sydney Cup.
Libran got up in the final strides in a slowly run Group Two Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The $2.25 favourite beat Alegria ($16) by a half neck with Cafe Society ($10), the race leader, a half head third.
Herbert runs Britain’s most successful syndication company, Highclere Thoroughbreds, and Libran now races in the care of leading trainer Chris Waller.
“I’ve never been to Sydney before so this is my first time to Randwick,” Herbert said.
“It’s unbelievable to be here.
“I’ve always had an opinion of this horse. He ran fourth in a big handicap at Royal Ascot but no-one wanted shares in him.
“He’s now owned 50-50 in Australia and the UK.”
Libran remained at $3.50 equal favourite alongside stablemate Who Shot Thebarman for the Sydney Cup after his win.
Arab Dawn, the Godolphin horse who won the Royal Ascot race, is a $26 chance.
Both Waller and Avdulla believe Libran will be much better suited by a more genuine pace.
“He gets a big drop in the weights for the Sydney Cup. I guess they took the speed out of the race,” Waller said.
“He will be very fit for the Sydney Cup.”
Avdulla said Libran continued to improve each time he rode him.
“He relaxed better today than he ever has,” he said.
“He just put his head down when they were going so slow.
“He scrambled a bit on the turn but when he balanced up he gave me a sweet run.”
