It might be winter racing but Waihaha Falls won in the manner of a horse destined for bigger things, trouncing his rivals at Randwick on Saturday to remain unbeaten this preparation.
After resuming with a victory at the same venue last month, the even money favourite made a one-act affair of the Bowermans Handicap (1200m), racing clear to score by 4-3/4 lengths over Snippy Fox ($5.50) with Poetic Charmer ($15) next best, another 1-3/4 lengths further back.
Apprentice Reece Jones, indentured to winning trainer John O’Shea, has ridden the horse at his past two starts and believes the four-year-old has the potential to progress to better races.
“Things didn’t go to plan early and I ended up a bit further back than I wanted to be,” Jones said.
“Runners held their spots and I didn’t want to be wide, so I let him get back and get a bit of cover for a while, got him to switch off but as soon as I felt I needed to start rolling into the race he cruised around effortlessly.
“When I asked for a bit more of an effort, he put them away very well.
“He has come back a lot stronger horse and hopefully he goes to that next level now.”
O’Shea is having a short break in Queensland and Alex Maher, who has been holding the fort, has saddled up two metropolitan runners in his absence – Thursday’s Canterbury winner Hell I Am and Waihaha Falls.
Maher was unsure of plans for Waihaha Falls but confirmed O’Shea was hoping he could eventually measure up to a better class of race.
“The boss gets back tonight so it will be up to him, but it has been a good week,” Maher said.
“I think he was planning to put him away for the spring but I’m not sure. Maybe one more (run) because he’s got to get his benchmark up.
“He’s always had a lot of ability. He just had a few niggling issues early but he’s a nice horse.”
