Markets regard Sixties as Chris Waller’s second string runner in the Doncaster Mile, but the trainer can make a case for the three-year-old featuring in the Randwick showstopper.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Sheza Alibi dominates betting as a $2 favourite, with Waller’s Autumn Boy a clear second pick at $7 and Sixties among the next seven horses marked between $14 and $19.
The colt has been luckless with gates this campaign, including when third in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington, and again faces a difficult task from the outside barrier in the 16-horse Doncaster field.
But if he can get some favours from there, Waller has no doubt Sixties is good enough to figure in the finish.
“Sixties is a very talented horse, and he showed that with his Phar Lap (Stakes) win, and before that as well,” Waller said.
“He didn’t get much luck in his last Group One run, which was in the Australian Guineas, when he drew wide and needed to go forward. It didn’t quite work for him.
“He’s (Group 1 winner) Artorius’ brother, so he’s well bred, and he’s a really good-natured horse.”
Rachel King partnered Sixties to his Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) victory last year and again has the ride on Saturday.
While she is yet to combine with Waller for a major, she has won six Group 1 races in Australia for Bjorn Baker, Tulloch Lodge and Mark Newnham and another during a Japanese riding stint last year.
Waller is thrilled to have the natural lightweight jockey on board and says she has more than proven her wares on the big stage.
“She won a Group race on him in the spring, and she is a natural lightweight rider,” he said.
“I see her as a big race rider. She’s won some big races in Australia, some big races in Japan, big races in Melbourne. She’s the right person for the job.”
King has rides in all four Group 1 races on the opening day of The Championships, partnering Rachini for Baker in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), that filly’s stablemate Green Spaces in the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) and Mazu for Joe Pride in the T J Smith Stakes (1200m).
