Thumbtacks has won more $400,000 in prizemoney without ever racing in open company but that’s all set to change with the Group Two Villiers Stakes now a realistic target.
Thumbtacks continued Chris Waller’s remarkable start to the new racing season as he brought up an early winning double for the premier trainer at Rosehill on Saturday in the Allan Barnes Coaches Handicap (1500m).
Thumbtacks continued Chris Waller's remarkable start to the new racing season as he brought up an early winning double for the premier trainer at Rosehill - Photo by Steve Hart
Thumbtacks’ narrow win over Soledad came 35 minutes after stablemate Coup Ay Tee won the Cleanevent A Spotless Company Handicap (1300m).
Waller went into the Rosehill meeting having trained 21 city winners in the opening month of the season.
Thumbtacks was due to go for a spell after his victory at Warwick Farm last Saturday but Waller decided to give the six-year-old one more more start and it proved successful.
“He’ll definitely go to the paddock now and get ready for the Villiers (in December),” Waller said.
“Up until today all his best form has been at Warwick Farm which is why we’re looking at the Villiers.
“He’s learnt how to win and is a sound and happy horse that has just kept improving.”
Waller said Thumbtacks was a great advertisement for Sydney racing.
“He’s a consistent horse and has never raced in Open company but has now won $410,000,” Waller said.
“That’s a good thing for Sydney racing and the way it is set up, if an owner can win that much money without taking on the best horses.”
Thumbtacks defeated the Peter Snowden-trained Bello by a neck last Saturday, and it was another Snowden-trained runner in Soledad that he ran down to win at Rosehill by a short half-head with Gangster’s Choice third.
Snowden congratulated Waller on Thumbtacks’ victory and quipped: “I’ll have to buy him. That’s the only way I’m going to beat him.”
