A narrow, scrambling victory at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday saw Steel Will overcome a challenging race, much to the relief of his supporters who had backed him heavily.
The three-year-old colt showed significant fight when put under pressure, ultimately doing his best work at the finish line to claim the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap over 1300 metres.
Following the win, prominent trainer Chris Waller detailed his ambitious spring carnival plans for the progressive galloper.
“Steel Will is a nice, progressive horse,” Waller commented. “He is well bred and it is always good to have horses with (owner) Sir Owen Glenn and he has a good one here.”
Steel Will, the $1.65 favourite, was expertly ridden by James McDonald to a neck victory over the closing Savvy Diamond ($13), with Plagiarism ($5.50) finishing a further three-quarters of a length behind in third.
Waller acknowledged that it wasn’t the “perfect placement” to debut Steel Will in Sydney Saturday class so soon after his maiden win at Wyong less than two weeks prior.
“He was on a quick back-up and the rain has just come so this was a stepping stone for the colt,” Waller stated. “It’s good to get some prizemoney in the back as it will make it easier to get him into the better races.”
The colt, a son of I Am Invincible and out of Pittsburgh Flyer, is a brother to the multiple Group 1-winning mare September Run, whom Waller also trained.
“I trained his sister September Run and she might have been the Champion Three-year-old of her year,” Waller said. “Bearing in mind Steel Will is September Run’s brother, we will probably keep him to shorter races.
“We will look at either the Run To The Rose here or go to Melbourne for the Poseidon Stakes at Flemington. If we are thinking of the Coolmore it would be good to give him some experience up the Flemington straight.
“Steel Will has got the breeding and he’s got the looks so he has a lot going for him.”
Those looking for the online bookmakers would have experienced a tense finish before the favourite Steel Will ultimately prevailed.
