Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe, trained by Chris Waller, impresses in Caulfield track gallop

Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe impressed in a track gallop at Caulfield, as his preparation towards next month’s Group 1 Australian Cup ramps up.

Craig Williams rode Soulcombe to victory in his first Australian start. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe is on track for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) next month at Flemington.

The Chris Waller stayer tuned up with a course proper gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday alongside Victoria Derby winner Riff Rocket.

Soulcombe quickened the last 600m to get the better of the star three-year-old stablemate over the concluding stages.

Jockey Craig Williams, warmed the seat on Tuesday with likely race rider Blake Shinn unavailable, endorsed the Waller camp’s positivity around Soulcombe.

Without A Fight takes the Melbourne Cup (G1)!

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“I was lucky this morning Blake’s not here, he’s busy, and I picked the ride up,” Williams said.

“At least I can give (Waller) a bit of feedback from my experience with him, the stable is happy and I could see why out here this morning.

“His attitude and action, I couldn’t be happier, I’ve got a pretty good understanding of him and I was really pleased with his work … he’s very focused, he’s very healthy.”

Williams won the 2022 Queen’s Cup at Flemington on Soulcombe, the lightly-raced import’s first Australian start.

They combined again last spring, third in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.

Without A Fight takes the Melbourne Cup (G1)!

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— IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) November 7, 2023

Williams on Tuesday felt Soulcombe has improved mentally since the spring and benefited from more time in the Waller system.

“He’s just more mature, he’s doing things a bit better,” Williams said.

“He’s quite playful, but he was a bit of a lad his last two preparations.

“Like a real lad when he first got off the plane and now he’s starting to fit into Chris Waller’s training system. The horse is just turning into a better racehorse now.”

Soulcombe won the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) first-up last spring, with Shinn aboard, and trained on to compete strongly at the highest level despite slow starts.

“I can see Chris has got him in a really healthy and positive position,” Williams said.

“It would be good, if he does leave the gates (on terms), we know how much of a weapon he is, especially over staying distances.”

Soulcombe has been set for a short autumn campaign, Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) and Australian Cup, to target the spring and Melbourne Cup redemption.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe, trained by Chris Waller, impresses in Caulfield track gallop