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Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Chris Waller weighing up plan of attack for star colts Emirate, Gatsby’s and Switzerland

Premier trainer Chris Waller has a trio of smart colts with Emirate, Gatsby’s and Switzerland that could feature in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) this Saturday.

Mitch Cohen
6 min read
August 26, 2024 - 7:00AM
Gatsby’s charges clear to win the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill on August 17. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Gatsby’s charges clear to win the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill on August 17. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Premier trainer Chris Waller is set to perform a juggling out with elite colts Switzerland, Gatsby’s and Emirate as he weighs up a heavy-handed approach in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Waller’s spring has already got off to a flying start after Via Sistina led home a stable trifecta in the Group 1 Winx Stakes on Saturday while Joliestar put her hand up for an Everest berth with an arrogant win.

The champion trainer is poised to have an imposing hand in both of next week’s features when the $250,000 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes and Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) are staged.

Boom colts Gatsby’s, Switzerland and Emirate are all being considered for the San Domenico.

• Big bets review: $20,000 bet goes under in Silver Shadow

Gatsby’s exploded into Golden Rose contention with a dominant first-up victory in the Listed Rosebud last month while Switzerland and Emirate have been trialling well in preparation for their returns.

“Gatsby’s has pulled up well and taken improvement from the run,’’ Waller said.

“Switzerland has come back really well so it will be one of the two.

“Emirate could almost be there but we will probably he will probably wait for the Run To The Rose.”

With Gatsby’s and Emirate both owned by Aramco Racing, Waller plans to keep apart the two stallion prospects where possible this spring.

Switzerland, a Group 2 Todman Stakes winner, is raced by Coolmore and could also be saved for the Run To The Rose, however Waller will mull over starting him a week earlier than originally expected.

Switzerland has a Group 2 winner as a two-year-old. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images
Switzerland has a Group 2 winner as a two-year-old. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

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“He is ready to go, he has had two trials,“ Waller said.

“I will see what the field is like and weigh everything up.

“We have not pushed him in his trials as he has a long way to go for the spring.

“We have kept him nice and fresh.“

Adrian Bott has confirmed boom colt Storm Boy will likely be among the nominations for the San Domenico Stakes, with Adam Hyeronimus booked to ride.

Meanwhile, promising filly Aeliana will likely headline Waller’s assault of the Up And Coming Stakes.

The daughter of Castelvecchio broke her maiden stylishly at Randwick Kensington earlier this month and could get a crack at the later legs of the Princess Series if all goes to plan.

“We have a lot of time for her, she’s a nice filly,“ Waller said.

“We are hoping to maybe get her to the Flight Stakes or we can back off and go to the Thousand Guineas.”

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

PALAZZO PRINCE (2nd, Race 3)

He found one better on the day in Atmospheric Rock but is still only very lightly-raced with plenty of upside. He’s got a Highway Handicap win in him sometime soon for sure.

ERNO’S CUBE (4th, Race 6)

With Bauhinia likely heading for a spell, this is the filly who we want to follow out of that Silver Shadow Stakes. She was brilliant running home from last and looks a major player in the Princess Series.

JOLIESTAR (1st, Race 7)

Auditions for The Everest don’t come more impressive than this daughter of Zoustar’s dominant victory in the Show County Quality. If she can repeat that performance this spring, she will take beating.

DEMOCRACY MANIFEST (4th, Race 7)

Nothing was getting near Joliestar but her stablemate still looks in for a great prep after closing from the back alongside Southport Tycoon, whose run also had plenty of merit. The Waller galloper looks on track for another crack at the Epsom.

VIA SISTINA (1st, Race 8)

Will she lose another race this preparation? The big question mark was the 1400m of the Winx Stakes but she was still too classy for them. Plenty of the chasing pack deserve following too, mind you.

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CRUNCH TIME

Ameena (Race 6): Seemingly trapped in an awkward spot back in the field at the top of the straight, her explosive late sprint won her the Silver Shadow. She ran her last 600m in 33.92 seconds but her race best 11.45 last 200m was decisive.

Joliestar (Race 7): The fact that this Everest contender ran a sizzling 32.71 seconds for her last 600m was made more impressive as she was eased down late. She ran amazing final three furlongs of 11.04, 10.49 and 11.18.

Via Sistina (Race 8): She only had a handful of runners behind her in the run before surging home closest to the inside with a slick last 600m of 32.98 seconds. Her final furlong of 11.10 was the fastest of the race.

Fangirl (3rd, Race 8): The wider route was likely the difference between winning and losing the Winx Stakes for the favourite, whose last 600m was only 0.01 outside her stablemate (32.99). She rounded the turn in front of Via Sistina but lost by half a length.

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STEWARDS SAY

Kreon (7th, Race 3): Raced greenly and James McDonald felt he would benefit from race experience. He was found to be displaying a poor recovery rate post-race.

Unlimited (10th, Race 4): Quickly came under pressure and gave ground in the home straight. A post-race veterinary examination found he was suffering cardiac arrhythmia for the first time.

Tropical Squall (10th, Race 8): Failed to respond to riding in the home straight before weakening over the final furlong. Was found to be 1/5 lame in the off-foreleg.

Lady Laguna (7th, Race 9): Was one paced under pressure in the straight and a post-race veterinary check found the Group 1 winner to be 1/5 lame in the near-foreleg.

Opal Ridge (9th, Race 9): Travelled well during the race but did not let down under pressure. Was found to have sustained a laceration to the off-foreleg post-race.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

TRACK TALK

“I’m living with Michael at the moment and he’s already told me it’s my shout tonight.” — Anthony Freedman after Ameena beat Manaal.

“I expected her to win, but not with that much ease, she executed really well.” — James McDonald on Joliestar.

“I’ve only sat on her once, which was last Saturday, and she was on her own, but she’s just a competitor.” — Kerrin McEvoy on Via Sistina.

Via Sistina was an impressive winner in the Winx Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images
Via Sistina was an impressive winner in the Winx Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

“Via Sistina is probably our No.1 seed for the Cox Plate unless Fangirl wins likes he she did in the King Charles (III Stakes) again.” — Chris Waller.

“Every trainer wants to have a runner in the Everest, there’s no doubt about that, we are a long way from there but you are allowed to dream.” Gary Portelli on Kimochi.

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

RACE 7
Joliestar was a big winner for TAB punters and ended up holding 56% of outlays, tightening from $2.80 into $2.50 after opening at $3.30. Big bets of $8600 @ $2.60 and $7500 @ $2.50 were taken. There were also several $3500 @ $2.60, $3000 @ $2.60 and multiple $2000 outlays ranging from $2.60-$2.40.

RACE 8
Via Sistina held around 3.5% of the money and was $9 out to $11 on raceday after opening at $6. The best of the bigger bets with TAB were $500 each-way at $11/$3. She has already taken bigger bets for the Cox Plate where she was slashed into $5 after some $2000 takes at $8. Fangirl was the best backed runner on the Randwick card and held 57% of TAB outlays with multiple $5000 and $4000 bets at $2.60 and $2. At least the three $10000 place bets at $1.35 paid.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Taree, Wagga
Tuesday: Tamworth
Wednesday: Canterbury Park
Thursday: Newcastle
Friday: Moruya, Scone
Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Kembla Grange, Grafton, Gulargambone
Sunday: Wyong, Moree

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

RON DUFFICY’S ROYAL RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY
Joliestar was simply sensational when let loose down the straight 1st up running sizzling sectionals winning with her head on her chest. She could well be a Tab Everest horse. In saying that, Via Sistina was just as good and she will be tough to beat in anything she contests.

FORGET THEY RAN
Punters are probably sick of listening at excuses for Commemorative but it was just the steady tempo that bought her undone on Saturday.

THE BLACK BOOK
Outside of the obvious big guns like Joliestar and Via Sistina I really like the look of Zardozi going forward this campaign. She wasn’t as wound up as most in that race and she is a good chance of being a Cups contender.

RIDE OF THE DAY
Jason Collett was great with his winning treble doing everything right getting the job done. He is just so consistent getting the job done when given the opportunity.

Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Chris Waller weighing up plan of attack for star colts Emirate, Gatsby’s and Switzerland

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/mitch-cohens-blackbook-chris-waller-weighing-up-plan-of-attack-for-star-colts-emirate-gatsbys-and-switzerland/news-story/3e83612756bf02976feb4e9786b3042c