Asterix erupts late to win JRA Plate first-up

Source: racenet.com.au

A perfectly timed Jason Collett steer propelled Asterix to a surprise first-up success at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Collett nailed the execution as the Chris Waller-trained Asterix ($16) saved ground on the inside before surging through a gap late to deny You Wahng ($9) in the shadows of the post in the $250,000 Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m).

“That played out really well for me” Collett said.

“Starting off over 2000m may have been a question mark, but Chris said ‘be kind to him’ and we got a very kind run. Off a moderate tempo, we only had to get out late and sprint and he did that.”

“I was pretty happy with that win, I think he’ll be in for a pretty good winter campaign.”

A winner of the 2022 NZ Derby, Asterix has taken some time to show his best in Australia.

Collett combined with him to win the Beauford at Newcastle last November and was able to help the son of Tavistock bring his A-game again on the final day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Asterix had not won in five previous first-up attempts.

“I didn’t know what to expect 2000m first-up,” Waller said.

“We gave him a few trials and that but I don’t expect too much with horses like that.

“It was great to see, he has got some NZ Derby form back.”

It was a tale of bad luck for Waller’s well-backed stablemate Travolta ($3.80 favourite), which flashed home for third.

“It wasn’t a pretty sight, was it?” Waller said.

“He just didn’t have any luck at the top of the straight.

“By the time he got out, it was sort of too late, but I think it showed he’s much more effective over these shorter distances, so he’d probably go there too.”