Perseverance and patience have paid off with Permit regaining his form to add the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup at Randwick to his recent Christmas Cup success.
The Chris Waller-trained former French gelding progressed through his grades as a five-year-old to earn a Sydney Cup start via his win in the 2012 Group Two Chairman’s Quality.
Permit (Blake Shinn, outside, blue cap) wins the Tattersalls Club Cup (Listed) at Randwick on January 1, 2014 - photo by Martin King / Sportpix
But after falling in the Sydney Cup, he failed to recapture winning form until last month’s Christmas Cup.
He backed that up with another 2400m victory on Wednesday, wearing down Travolta to win by a long head.
Destiny’s Kiss had every chance but couldn’t catch the leading pair, finishing a neck third.
“He is a horse who is very special to the stable,” Waller said.
“He’s only got one speed but luckily it’s a high-cruising speed and he maintains it.
“When he came to us he won a lot of races but then after the Sydney Cup it didn’t happen.
“We’ve persevered and the owners have been very patient and this is the reward.
“We’ll take things one race at a time but the Australia Day Cup over the 2400 (metres) again looks like a good race for him.”
Permit’s jockey Blake Shinn continued his good run for the stable after recent wins on Black Jag and I’m Imposing.
“I can’t take my hat off to the stable enough,” he said.
“Last preparation I rode him and though he was struggling. I thought he was probably headed for retirement.
“But today he felt sensational. It was a genuinely run race and he appreciated that.”
Permit was the second Waller-trained horse to narrowly beat Travolta in as many starts, with I’m Imposing claiming his scalp in the Summer Cup.
But Travolta’s jockey Adam Hyeronimus and trainer Gai Waterhouse had better luck earlier in the day when Laidback Larry blitzed his rivals over 1600 metres.
Waterhouse’s representative Mark Newnham said Laidback Larry was a stayer in the making.
“He’s typical of the New Zealand breed. He’s by O’Reilly and he has taken time,” Newnham said.
“Gai has been patient with him and he will stay all day.”
