Waller Tallies Group I Double in Australia
Description:
Trainer Chris Waller enjoyed a group I double Sept. 20 in Australia, capturing the George Main Stakes (Aus-I) with Sacred Falls at Royal Randwick and the Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (Aus-I) at Caulfield with Foreteller.
Sacred Falls shot through a gap at the 200-meter mark and won the George Main Stakes from Royal Descent in a one-two finish for the trainer.
The $4 favorite in the 10-horse field, Sacred Falls scooted clear to a 1 1/4-length triumph over his stablemate, who appeared set to cruise up the rail to victory when entering the stretch.
A 5-year-old son of O'Reilly—Iguazu's Girl, by Redoute's Choice, Sacred Falls was timed in 1:35.66 for 1,600 meters (about one mile) on good turf, improving his career line to 9-2-1 from 22 starts.
With Zac Purton at the reins, Sacred Falls halted a three-race winless stretch dating from his half-length victory over Royal Descent in The Star Doncaster Mile (Aus-I), a race in which he qualified for a fees-paid automatic starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park this fall. His record also includes a win in the 2013 Doncaster Mile as well as his triumph in the 2012 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (NZ-I)
Laser Hawk was quick to lead from the gate while Panzer Division, Rising Romance, and Royal Descent pursued. There was little change up front until entering the stretch when Royal Descent, hugging the rail, asserted himself but ultimately had to settle for second.
Waller trains Scared Falls for Raffles Thoroughbred Racing and G. J. Chittick. He was bred in New Zealand by Waikato Stud 2001.
Foreteller, with Glen Boss aboard, got up for a narrow win from Happy Trails in the Underwood Stakes after Crackerjack King, a $51 longshot, nearly stole the race on the front end.
Crackerjack King spurted away at the start and was hanging on to a commanding lead to the shadow of the post. Foreteller and Happy Trails arrived almost too late, with Foreteller surging for a half head triumph.
"He caught Happy Trails out of the side of his eye and he kept trying," Waller's stable foreman Justine Hales told Australia's Racing Network and added that Foreteller is "definitely" a candidate for the W. S. Cox Plate (Aus-I), Australia's marquee weight-for-age race, in October at Moonee Valley.
Foreteller was timed in 1:50.25 for 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on good turf.
Crackerjack King, on the comeback from two tendon injuries, held on for a commendable third, a length back, in the 10-horse field.
Foreteller, an 8-year-old gelding by Dansili—Prophesy, by Warning, ended a year-long winless streak, earning his first victory in 11 starts since capturing the Makybe Diva Stakes (Aus-I) last September at Flemington. He came into the Underwood off a third-place finish in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (Aus.-II) Sept. 6 at Moonee Valley.
Bred by Juddmonte Farms in Great Britain and campaigned by a partnership, Foreteller has an 11-4-3 record from 45 career starts