The winning margin was slender, it was a scrambling effort rather than a spectacular one, and punters who took the short odds had some nervous moments but Steel Will still found a way to win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Steel Will showed admirable desire when under pressure and was doing his best work on the line to win the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1300m).
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller gave a revealing interview post-race when he outlined his big-race plans for Steel Will during the spring carnival.
“Steel Will is a nice, progressive horse,” Waller said.
“He is well bred and it is always good to have horses with (owner) Sir Owen Glenn and he has a good one here.”
Steel Will, heavily backed into $1.65 favouritism, was ridden by champion jockey James McDonald to score a neck win over the fast finishing Savvy Diamond ($13) with Plagiarism ($5.50) three-quarters of a length away third. Those searching for the best betting sites Australia would have had some nervous moments before the favourite prevailed.
Waller admitted it wasn’t “perfect placement” to start Steel Will in Sydney Saturday class after he broke his maiden at Wyong less than two weeks ago.
“He was on a quick back-up and the rain has just come so this was a stepping stone for the colt,” Waller said.
“It’s good to get some prizemoney in the back as it will make it easier to get him into the better races.”
Steel Will is a three-year-old colt by champion stallion I Am Invincible out of Pittsburgh Flyer, the dam of former brilliant mare September Run who Waller trained to win twice at Group 1 level in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and William Reid Stakes.
“I trained his sister September Run and she might have been the Champion Three-year-old of her year,” Waller said.
“Bearing in mind Steel Will is September Run’s brother, we will probably keep him to shorter races.
“We will look at either the Run To The Rose here or go to Melbourne for the Poseidon Stakes at Flemington.
“If we are thinking of the Coolmore it would be good to give him some experience up the Flemington straight.
“Steel Will has got the breeding and he’s got the looks so he has a lot going for him.”
