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Source: racenet.com.au
Champion trainer Chris Waller bolstered his already considerable Champagne Stakes stocks after Diameter scored a decisive win in the Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Stepping out for start five, the Godolphin-owned Brazen Beau colt had given every indication that the rise to a mile would be right in his wheelhouse, and that’s how it played out under the urgings of Tommy Berry.
“He’s been really good in all of his runs but he was hitting a flat spot mid race,” Berry said.
“Today, with very little speed in the race, Chris and I came up with a plan to be more positive on him and I got stuck into him before the corner to get him out of that flat spot and it paid off.
“He was lovely and strong late, it’s good when a plan pays off.”
Following Diameter’s ($6.50) one-length Fernhill victory over Salann ($6.50), the progressive juvenile firmed into $8 for next Saturday’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) which rounds out the 2YO Triple Crown.
Favourite for the race at $2.50 is stablemate Campione Ditalia which landed the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes in emphatic fashion last time out.
“It’s good to pick up some lovely horses from Godolphin,” Waller said.
“He’s by Brazen Beau which we know a bit about and he’s always shown that he’ll get a mile.
“His last start gave us confidence to press towards this race and as a three-year-old he’ll get his chance in some good mile races.”
Diameter’s victory launched a big day for the all-conquering Waller stable, led by Autumn Glow’s appearance in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“It’s good to win a race early, bit like hitting a boundary on the first ball,” Waller said.
While Diameter was dominant in the Fernhill, the effort of runner-up Salann and fourth placegetter Stitzer were real eye-catchers from back in the field.