Chris Waller has a long track record of developing late-maturing youngsters into Group 1 stars, and promising colt Providence could be the next to follow that pathway. Despite still being a maiden, Providence has shaped with plenty of potential across his three starts to date.
The son of Wootton Bassett debuted with a placing at Randwick in May before finishing fourth in both the Listed Phoenix (1500m) and the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane winter carnival. Waller has often used the Queensland carnival to launch future stars, with The Autumn Sun, Zoustar and Press Statement all following a similar path.
“He did really well in the J J Atkins. He drew wide and got back on a day that it was impossible to make up ground,” Waller said.
“He overcame a few biases that day and showed us he has got the makings of a nice horse.”
While Providence has already stretched to a mile, Waller has not ruled out a tilt at the Golden Rose (1400m) should the colt show further improvement. His first step as a three-year-old comes in Saturday’s Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill, where he lines up against six rivals, including stablemates Sixties and Fermoy.
“He is by Wootton Bassett and he’s a lovely, scopey horse,” Waller said.
“He is definitely a Spring Champion Stakes horse but I’m hoping he might find more speed and get to a Golden Rose. Who knows?”
Sixties earned his spot in stakes company with a seven-length demolition of a Kensington maiden earlier this month, while Fermoy – by Coolmore sire Justify – showed improvement when flashing into fourth on a heavy track at Rosehill first-up.
“He hit a flat spot on a couple of the wet spots and he has finished off well,” Waller said. “He has matured as a three-year-old so forget his two-year-old form. He’s a new horse.”
Stablemate Central Coast was also entered for the race but has been withdrawn after trialling at Rosehill on Thursday.
Punters looking to back Providence and his stablemates in the Up And Coming Stakes or futures markets like the Golden Rose can compare prices across Australia’s leading betting sites.
