Beiwacht to shine in 2026 Canterbury Stakes according to Waller

Chris Waller is set to employ the tactics that proved most effective for Beiwacht in the past, seeking to coax a repeat of the colt’s Golden Rose brilliance.

The Bivouac three-year-old returns to Sydney base after two without-place results along the Flemington straight and joins a potent Waller team contesting Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.

It constitutes Beiwacht’s return to Sydney racing since his dazzling conquest of last year’s Group 1 Golden Rose, subsequently placing fourth in November’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and tailing the field first-up last month in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).

“It just didn’t work out down the straight,” Waller said.

“He’s got a very high cruising speed, but probably not high enough to be racing against 1000-metre horses.

“I think it’s more a 12 to 1500-metre cruising speed, where he can sustain it.

“We’ve got to get him back into that type of racing and we thought the Canterbury Stakes was the best option.

“His win the Golden Rose in a similar type of race, his rating was through the roof – like, world-standard – so we’ve just got to try and simulate that and get back to that level.”

Beiwacht set a fresh benchmark for the Rosehill 1400m in the Golden Rose, clearing the line more than four lengths in front of stablemate Wodeton and high-class filly Tempted, successful last Saturday in the Group 1 Surround Stakes.

Waller fields three in the Canterbury Stakes acceptors with Beiwacht, including Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah.

Post their first-up efforts of victory and third in the February 14 Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m), the elite mares have Waller satisfied with their efforts.

“They both ran well first-up, Joliestar was awesome and she’s come through it well,” he said.

“The 1300 will suit her and Lady Shenandoah was brilliant first-up as well.

“It was a slowly-run race and she got in a spot where she just needed a bit of time to get out of (but) she was strong to the line.”

Randwick hosts a Group 1 double this Saturday via the Canterbury Stakes and Randwick Guineas, the latter featuring Waller’s preseason favourite Autumn Boy.

For the Canterbury Stakes, punters should check the betting sites with the keenest racing odds available.

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