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Source: theaustralian.com.au
Champion trainer Chris Waller completed a perfect 10 of $250,000 Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) triumphs when Matusalem broke a 503-day drought at Wyong on Friday.
A patient ride from superstar jockey James McDonald helped Matusalem score a narrow victory in the Big Dance qualifying feature to continue Waller’s dominance on the Central Coast.
McDonald was boxed in on the fence as the field turned for home before squeezing through runners to propel Matusalem ($2.50 favourite) to victory in a tight go from Anythink Goes ($13) while Elliptical ($9) was third.
“I can see why he hasn’t strung a few together because he was going to win by a couple and he just pricked the ears, decided the job was done and floated around,” McDonald said.
“It’s good to win the race again and Chris and his team have a great record in this race so he joins a nice honour roll.”
It was McDonald’s fifth win in the race – all of which have come on Waller-trained horses, including last year’s winner Saltcoats.
For Matusalem, it was his first win since he qualified for the Big Dance last year with victory in the Albury Cup in April.