Talented colt Sixties shone brightly with a powerful win, allowing Waller to claim his ninth edition of the leading three-year-old race, differing from his first eight all-female winners that kicked off with superstar Winx during 2015.
Waller’s list includes Foxplay (2017), Unforgotten (2018), Verry Elleegant (2019), Funstar (2020), Hungry Heart (2021), Zougotcha (2023) and Lazzura (2025).
Sixties, sent off at $1.65 odds-on, was forced to burn energy initially to cross from an outside draw and track the leader externally, where champion James McDonald orchestrated matters prior to the colt’s three-quarters length defeat of fast-closing Federalist ($41) and Cellarmaster ($26) half a length behind in third.
In a span of merely 35 minutes after Sixties crossed the line, Waller and McDonald added the Group 1 Coolmore Classic courtesy of Lazzura.
This feat underscores Waller’s phenomenal history in the Phar Lap Stakes, since each of those eight fillies advanced to Group 1 victories.
Sixties aims to emulate them as Waller’s ninth Phar Lap Stakes winner at Group 1 when tackling the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 4.
Allocated only 49kg for the Doncaster, Sixties avoids any re-handicap stemming from his Phar Lap Stakes score.
Waller disclosed that Rachel King is retained to steer Sixties in the Doncaster Mile.
From a recent near-miss third placing in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, the colt validated his superiority via a compelling Phar Lap Stakes run.
“Things didn’t really work out in the Australian Guineas, like today, he’s had bad draws and it just makes it harder,” Waller said.
I think his best win was when we rode him quiet. But today, being a short priced favourite, we’ve got three weeks into the Doncaster I thought ‘oh well we’ll try you up again on the speed.’
“But ideally in the Doncaster we’ll ride him more conservatively. He’s got to go to a new level in the Doncaster but he’s very well weighted.”
James McDonald, riding to a record sixth Phar Lap Stakes win and fifth with Waller, was effusive about Sixties afterwards.
“He would be a lot better off being a bit further back in the run,” Waller said.
“But obviously he’s a classy horse, he’s just come on leaps and bounds from each run he’s had and he’s a gorgeous colt to boot.
When ridden a bit quieter you’d really see a lethal performance. Obviously it was a bit tradesman-like today but there’s room to improve.”
With 49kg, McDonald expects Sixties to figure prominently in the Doncaster Mile.
“If he’s ridden three or four pairs back in a Doncaster on nice ground he would come out and run extremely well,” McDonald said.
“Ideally, I think his best trip is six furlongs to 1400m and he’s just getting that mile on ability at the moment.
“But he travelled really comfortably today, he’s just so honest, you can’t teach that. He’s got a heart of a lion.”
Visit leading betting sites to compare odds for Sixties’ Doncaster Mile challenge.