Chris Waller is the dominant force in Sydney racing but could break new ground in the Sires’ Produce Stakes.
While the Waller-trained superstar Winx is the headline attraction in Saturday’s Doncaster Mile at Randwick, a race the premier trainer has won five times in eight years, Omei Sword is rated a genuine chance to give him a first win in a Sydney Group One race for two-year-olds.
Waller doesn’t push the youngsters, preferring to let them find their way but has won the last of the five Australian juvenile Group One races twice at the Brisbane winter carnival.
Pressday took out the TJ Smith in 2010 and his younger half brother Press Statement won the re-named J J Atkins last year.
Omei Sword goes into the Sires’ Produce (1400m) off a Rosehill maiden win and a closing second to Calliope in the Magic Night Stakes.
Waller believes Omei Sword will come into her own as a spring three-year-old but the filly has earned her chance at Saturday’s Group One feature in her first campaign.
“She looks the real deal, in terms of a three-year-old,” Waller told radio RSN.
“Does she have the X-factor? Can she win a Group One race at her third start? Well, the credentials are there from her last start to suggest she is a horse on the improve.
“It’s another giant step tomorrow, but good horses can take it.
“So I’m running off that. I think she’s a terrific chance.”
Omei Sword is unlikely to go to Brisbane with Waller to target the major spring three-year-old fillies races with the daughter of 2009 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights.
Two horses coming off eye-catching Golden Slipper runs occupy the top two lines of betting in the Sires’ with Slipper runner-up Yankee Rose at $3.50 ahead of Godolphin’s Telperion at $3.80.
Omei Sword, to be ridden by Brett Prebble, is a $6 chance.
The training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden won the Sires’ with Pride Of Dubai a year ago and have Detective and Attention in Saturday’s race.
Peter Snowden also won with Helmet in 2011 and Guelph in 2013 when he was head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au
