Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller has made his mark for the new season with a trifecta in the first feature race, the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.
While French import He’s Your Man was the clear-cut winner with premier jockey James McDonald aboard, stewards were forced to adjudicate on the minor placings with I’m Imposing getting second on protest over Coup Ay Tee.
Owned in the same interests as 2013 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Reliable Man, He’s Your Man started at $5 for his breakthrough win in Australia at his sixth southern hemisphere start.
Waller said the Metropolitan (2400m) on October 4 was an ideal target for He’s Your Man.
“I think the Metropolitan is the perfect race for him,” Waller said.
“He has the turn of foot to keep him competitive in the lead-up races.
“The Premier’s Cup in four weeks will be his next start. He has proved he doesn’t have to run every two weeks.
“We have horses for races like the Naturalism in Melbourne so he may even take in the Wyong Cup or the Newcastle Cup.”
He’s Your Man was 1-1/4 lengths clear of his stablemates who were separated by a long head.
Tye Angland successfully objected against Jason Collett for interference near the final 200m of the 1500m race when Coup Ay Tee shifted in.
Coup Ay Tee may well have run his last race in Australia with the plan to return him to New Zealand where his owner Ray Coupland lives.
Murder Of Crows gave the trainer a race-to-race double and Tommy Berry his first city winner since his return from a successful Hong Kong stint.
Coming from back in the field, Murder Of Crows ($8) wore down Masterstroke ($16) to win by a neck with 1-3/4 lengths to Worldly Impact ($6.50).
Hugh Bowman, who was riding at his first meeting since ending a short-term Hong Kong contract, joined Berry on the winners’ list.
Bowman steered the Joe Pride-trained Rock Sturdy to win the 1350m Benchmark 80 after the Gooree-owned four-year-old missed the start.
“It’s great to be home and it’s great to win on a horse I had a bit to do with in the autumn,” Bowman said.
“He was a little fractious in the barrier but he is so laid back he picked them up easily.
“The penny hasn’t dropped yet and when it does he will be a serious horse.”
