For more than a decade, the Phar Lap Stakes has been a successful launch pad for a host of emerging Chris Waller-trained three-year-olds, although this year’s renewal will have a slight twist.
The champion trainer has captured the race eight times since Winx delivered his inaugural win in 2015, and on Saturday he saddles up Australian Guineas placegetter and odds-on favourite Sixties, along with lightly raced fillies Panova ($7.50) and Soverato ($19).
Sixties is on a Doncaster Mile (1600m) path and if successful, will be the first colt Waller has produced to win the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m).
All of his past victories have been with fillies, and while Panova is considered his second stringer in early markets, she has a profile similar to many of his previous victors.
The winner of the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in the spring, Panova underwhelmed when sixth in the Surround Stakes (1400m) first-up.
However, Waller is fully expecting her to rebound, and says given the positioning of Saturday’s race early in the autumn, it is no fluke it has played a key role in blooding some of his better fillies.
“It’s just one step back from the Group Ones and seems to give them good confidence. It has been a good stepping stone,” Waller said.
“And Panova is really nice filly. I expected her to run a length or two better first-up, but I’m not reading too much into it. I just think she was underdone. She is a good horse.”
Adrian Bott is also looking for an improved showing from Shangri La Boy in the Group 2 feature after the colt led and faded in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at his first appearance since the spring.
The disappointing effort prompted a campaign reshuffle and Saturday’s result will determine what races he heads towards.
“A performance well below par first-up, hence the reason we pivoted from the Randwick Guineas, which was always the original plan,” Bott said.
“Hopefully this is a race we can see him bounce back in and gain some confidence through, and then we can adjust the back end of the campaign.”
Shangri La Boy has an affinity for Rosehill where he has won two of his three starts and will have the services of Nash Rawiller.
