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Resurgent galloper Libran gave Chris Waller his fourth consecutive Group III Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Waller saddled up five runners in the $150,000 contest, including $2.90 favourite Life Less Ordinary and $5 chance Antonio Giuseppe, but it was $26 pop Libran which stole first prize in a stunning return to form.
Libran had endured a lean autumn carnival, culminating in the calamitous Sydney Cup which was sensationally abandoned on the home corner after fallen runner Almoonqith was unable to be removed from the track.
But Waller said Sydney’s wet weather earlier this year was at the centre of Libran’s decline in form – despite the gelding hailing from the United Kingdom.
“He just went missing in that wet Autumn. This time last year he was going good, in fact he missed the Spring but wet tracks cost him, he’s on good tracks now, he’s ridden patiently in a funny run race,” Waller said
“They took off at the 500m as if there was no tomorrow. He was ridden patiently and came home with a barnstorming run.
“He ran a very good race first-up and his work since then has been good. Heard him tipped in the morning on radio so obviously he caught the eye of some good judges.”
Antonio Giuseppe finished runner-up, 1-1/2 lengths astern of his less fancied stablemate, while Life Less Ordinary was a further half-length back in third – completing a Waller trifecta.
The result has seen Waller tighten his grip on the Group I Metropolitan (2400m) in two weeks’ time, with the Kingston Town Stakes trio joining Up ‘n’ Rolling in the $750,000 event.
Rider Glyn Schofield finished the meeting with a Group double, with Libran’s win following Alizee’s triumph in the Group II Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). – Racenet.com.au