Schweppes All Aged Stakes (Group 1)
HAVING already aced the treble in Champagne Stakes, the Chris Waller stable picked up the quinella in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
By day’s end, they had four winners including both features.
Five of the 13 runners for the 1,400 metre All Aged were trained by Waller with Beiwacht triumphant, a product of his sire Bivouac’s first season at stud.
Nash Rawiller, out of barrier 2 went straight to the front and dictated proceedings. Leading through the bend, Beiwacht stole a handy two-length margin on his rivals, which was only closed late as his stablemate the Snitzel filly Lazzura got within a length of the colt as the Per Incanto gelding Jimmysstar claimed third.
“He just travelled beautifully and he ran the sectionals and kicked off that,” said Rawiller. “You know what It’s like when you’re on a really good horse and you know you’re home. I just love the way he lengthened stride again when I asked him. I was just happy to enjoy it.”
“He’s a very special horse,” said Chris Waller. “He did it in the Golden Rose as well and broke the Rosehill track record.
“He’s a pretty talented young colt. So to beat the older horses, and this year’s All Aged Stakes I think, like the rest of the carnival, it’s a very special field.”
Champagne Stakes (Group 1)
A HALF-length separated all three Chris Waller-trained colts in the Champagne Stakes, the final leg of Sydney’s autumn triple crown for juveniles, as the stable claimed a rare Group 1 treble.
The Paul Perry-trained Don’t Look Back led into the straight but was quickly set upon by the three Waller runners. Fireball and Campione D’Italia, starters in both the Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce, diced for the lead as Diameter, winner of the Fernhill Stakes, threatened briefly along the rail.
Both Snitzel colts rallied as on the line the margin was a neck with a further neck back to the Brazen Beau colt Diameter.
Fight back
“The challenge came early enough that he had the opportunity to fight back and that he did,” said Fireball’s jockey Tim Clark.
“He’s obviously so tough and he’s been running in all the big races. I’m thrilled to get a good result for Chris and James Harron and all of his connections.”
A $460,000 Inglis Easter purchase for James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Fireball has won three from six including the A$2 million Inglis Millenium and is the 28th individual Group 1 winner for the late Arrowfield stallion Snitzel.
“You wouldn’t know he’s deep into a prep, each run has had so much merit and not a lot of luck, so he deserved that today,” observed Waller.
“I’M lost for words. They just fail me; seven in a row, seven years old, some sort of symmetry,” said Victorian trainer Cindy Alderson after her inspired sprinter Jigsaw took out the A$5 million Quokka, over 1,200 metres at Ascot in Western Australia. With the stable-name of Benjamin Button, after the F. Scott Fitzgerald character who ages in reverse, the rising eight-year-old is unbeaten since late October.
Sent out favourite, the Manhattan Rain gelding was slick out of the gates to cross the field from the outside gate 13 and take up the running. Hot on his hammer was the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner Caballus as apprentice Logan Bates looked to have Jigsaw travelling smoothly through the bend.
Slipped some rein, Jigsaw opened a two-length break down the straight as the Magnus gelding Rey Magnerio, looked to be the only serious threat. In the charge to the line, Jigsaw never faded as Rey Magnerio could only reach his girth. Third was the I’m All The Talk filly Talkanco.
Speechless
“What a horse! He leaves me speechless. He’s gone to NZ, won a Group 1 then won a Group 1 in Australia and now he’s travelled to Perth,” said Logan Bates.
“Dare I say it, he probably wasn’t 100%. He’s probably come to the end of it but it just goes to show his will to win.
“He was all out at the 100 metres and I gave him a couple of reminders and he just kept surging and that’s what’s so special about him. He’ll do anything for you, he’s so willing and it’s very rewarding.”
THE Group 1 winning three-year-old colts Tentyris and Observer have both been retired to stand at Darley for the 2026 breeding season.
Tentyris by Street Boss, a winner of five from 10 races between 1,000 and 1,200 metres, was victorious in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington before doubling his Group 1 tally in the Lightning Strakes this February after which he was touted as a Royal Ascot possibility.
Observer, a first-season son of Ghaiyyath, won both the Victoria Derby and Australian Guineas, matching Tentyris as a dual Group 1 winner, having won five of 11 starts ranging from 1,400 metres to 2,500 metres.
Darley has announced that Tentyris will stand for $88,000 whilst Observer’s fee will be $33,000.