Wine Tales misfortune provides Sydney lead

A Melbourne Cup week race he didn’t win seems certain to hold the key to one of trainer Chris Waller’s best chances at Randwick.

Waller’s stable set a hectic pace on the first day of the Flemington carnival, winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Victoria Derby as well a support race.

The second day was almost as memorable with Who Shot Thebarman finishing third in the Melbourne Cup and Grand Marshal winning a support race.

Yet it could have been better if Wine Tales had been able to find proper racing room in a Listed race before finishing out of the placings.

Even with Stakes day to come, there’s every chance Wine Tales will go down as one of the best things beaten during the four days of Flemington.

But out of that missed opportunity, Waller can make a case for the capable Good Project in the 2015 Membership On Sale Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.

Good Project promises to be at the top of his game after two runs in as a three-year-old.

He covered ground near the front when fading out late at Randwick last month before he went within a photo of holding out Wine Tales at Rosehill.

“He got beaten by Wine Tales the other day and Wine Tales should have franked the form on Melbourne Cup day,” Waller said.

“I’m sure he will be hard to beat … he’s got good form.”

In spite of his trainer’s confidence, Good Project ($5) is shaded in early markets by Godolphin runner Hauraki ($3.40) as well his Waller-trained stablemate Redoubtable Heart ($4.60).

“Redoutable Heart is ready to step up to this grade now,” Waller said.

Bookmakers rate consistent Amovatio the pick of Waller’s eight Randwick runners with the four-year-old a clear-cut favourite to win the Time To Shop At TAB Handicap.

Since being kept fresh after a Melbourne campaign, Amovatio has raced twice in Sydney for a Rosehill placing and late-finishing fourth to Excess Knowledge at Randwick last month.

Redoutable Heart and Amovatio are among a strong book of rides for Jim Cassidy which also includes the well-backed So Nostalgic for Gai Waterhouse.

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