Chris Waller’s emerging New Zealand import Start Wondering was luckless in defeat earlier this month but the gelding rewarded his backers at Rosehill on Saturday with a comfortable victory.

Start Wondering faced only four rivals in the opening event – the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1500m) – and proved a class above his opposition, winning by 2-1/2 lengths as a $1.40 favourite.

On January 2 at the same track, a wide barrier condemned the five-year-old to a half-length defeat as a $1.65 favourite after enduring a wide run without cover.

Hugh Bowman, who recently returned to Sydney from a riding stint in Japan, ensured his mount would not be pocketed in the small field by settling last before tracking stablemate and second favourite Marenostro into the straight.

Start Wondering peeled off Marenostro’s back in the home straight and from then on it was a matter of how big his winning margin would be.

Waller said he was still unsure of where Start Wondering sits in the Sydney pecking order but a third win from his four Australian starts has the trainer eyeing off black type contests over 1400 metres and beyond.

“It was good to see him switch off, have a bit of a turn of foot at the end of the race and win by a margin,” Waller said.

“I think we’ll see the best of him when ridden like that.

“I still don’t know where we are at but a Group or Listed race over 1400 or 1500 metres will tell us.” – Racenet