Five stayers from the Chris Waller yard face their first serious Sydney autumn carnival test in Saturday’s Sky High Stakes at Rosehill.
Among Waller’s quintet will be New Zealand import and Melbourne Cup placegetter Who Shot Thebarman, three ex-European stayers headed by Opinion and a Derby winner in Hawkspur.
Who Shot Thebarman, Glen Boss
They all rise to a winnable distance range for the first time this preparation as they continue towards target races during the Sydney carnival.
“It’s a nice race for all of them to find some form,” Waller said.
“Opinion and Who Shot Thebarman are obviously on Sydney Cup paths and their first-up runs were terrific.
“Junoob and Hawkspur were disappointing second-up, so third-up it’s a race they can find a bit of form in.
“Beaten Up went no good in Melbourne and we’ve brought him back home hoping he can race better right-handed which he always does.”
Who Shot Thebarman and Opinion were competitive over an unsuitable 1600-metre journey in the Chipping Norton Stakes and are proven over 2000m.
They are both being aimed at The BMW at Rosehill in two weeks and the Sydney Cup a fortnight later for which Who Shot TheBarman is the favourite.
Chipping Norton Stakes runner-up Hartnell is the $1.80 favourite for the Sky High after Godolphin opted not to pay up for the Australian Cup due to the likelihood of a firm track at Flemington.
Who Shot Thebarman is a $5 second pick with Opinion at $17.
