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Source: racenet.com.au
Image: KLM Media
Declichy Boulevard capped a red-letter day for champion trainer Chris Waller and jockey Tommy Berry after surging home to salute at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The smart daughter of Snitzel delivered Waller his fifth winner on the program – four of which came in feature events – when she did her best work late to score in the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m).
Berry, who had already piloted a pair of winners, had Declichy Boulevard buried back in the field with the tempo on out in front.
Favourite Linebacker ($3.10) went for home at the top of the straight and shot clear but Declichy Boulevard ($3.20) wound up gamely to overhaul the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained galloper over the concluding stages.
Welcometotheshow ($6) got going late to nab third.
The win came less than an hour after Berry had booted home Waller’s mare Lazzura to win the $2 million Group 2 The Invitation while Lindermann (Craven Plate), Central Europe (Callander-Presnell) and Exo Velocity (Kirkham Plate) all saluted for the stable.
“Having days like this is a day to remember and certainly a red-letter day,” Waller’s stable representative Darren Beadman said.
“With her pattern of racing, the race really set up for her with a good speed up front and there was a lot of pressure early from a few runners.
“She just say back there and Tommy smoked his pipe, got into a three-wide line with cover and chimed into it lovely.
“She has always been a quality mare, obviously had a few injuries along the way and Mr and Mrs Payne gave her the patience and the time to get over it and they are reaping the rewards now.”
The Prelude is the lead-up to the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) a fortnight later at Rosehill Gardens.
Beadman felt Declichy Boulevard, a placegetter in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m as a three-year-old, would be well suited in the five-year-old event.
“1800m at Rosehill is like a mile at Randwick and especially being back at her home track, I think it will work out perfectly for her,” he said.
Declichy Boulevard’s latest win saw her career earnings surge through the $1 million barrier.
It gave Berry consecutive victories in the race after he won the event for the first time last year on the Tony Gollan-trained Transatlantic.