Chris Waller will rely on progressive stayers Gayatri and Dabiyr in the Group Three Colin Stephen Quality with stablemate Naval Warfare likely to head to Melbourne.
Gayatri had the measure of Dabiyr when the pair clashed over the same course and distance two weeks ago but the latter is the $2.40 favourite to turn the tables in Saturday’s 2400 metre race.
A European import, Dabiyr was having his first Sydney start and did a good job to rally for second after he was left in front a long way from home when race leader Castel Sant’Angelo began to tire approaching the home corner.
“Dabiyr was the one doing a lot of work last start and was still there at the finish, and if anything was just as strong on the line as he was at any stage of the race,” Waller said.
The trainer was equally impressed with Gayatri, who he believes can develop into a Sydney Cup prospect in the autumn.
She has had three starts over 2400m for a win and two seconds and Waller expects her to be in the finish again.
If either of his pair can win, he has not ruled out backing them up in Saturday week’s Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick.
“Obviously if they were to win and win well, we would consider the seven-day back up, but they would need to do that to pursue that path,” Waller said.
Waller has also accepted with Naval Warfare but says he is likely to bypass the Colin Stephen in preference for the Listed R M Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington on the same afternoon.
Despite his dominance of Sydney’s staying races in recent seasons, Waller has surprisingly claimed the Colin Stephen Quality just once with Kelinni six years ago.
