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Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, by Michael Lynch
The Chris Waller-trained September Run sprinted back to form in sensational style in the William Reid Stakes at The Valley, landing the last group 1 of the Victorian season and bursting the bubble of boom galloper Marabi.
The Craig Williams-ridden mare had not won since she completed a spring hat-trick during the 2020 Melbourne Cup carnival by winning the group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes as a three-year-old filly.
But she showed she was coming back to form last time out with a first-up third in the group 1 Newmarket Handicap and confirmed she was back to her best with a slashing one-length victory in last night’s 1200-metre contest.
Marabi, who had won all seven of her starts – including the group 1 Oakleigh Plate last time out – was backed into short-priced favouritism to continue the sequence she and rider Ben Allen had put together.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained five-year-old was always prominent in a keenly run race and she took command at the top of the straight.
But she and Allen had no answer when first September Run flashed past and then the late closers swooped in the shadows of the post as she wilted in the dying strides.
Two outsiders, Halvorsen and General Beau finished best of the rest for second and third with Marabi’s stable companion Generation fourth.
Waller made the trek down from Sydney to witness the daughter of Exceed and Excel bounce back to her best and admitted afterwards it was the first time he had been at the track since Cox Plate Day three years ago.
“She was the best three-year-old of her season, but it (went) backwards from then. It was a glimpse of September Rain last start. (Tonight) she really got to show her class,” said Waller.
“She’s been bouncing out of her skin … September Run was ready to go and she did a great job.
“She’s been so good up the straight and now she’s shown she’s pretty effective around a left hand bend.”
Marabi is likely to be spelled now, but September Run will likely stay active and could be aimed at the group 1 Sangster Stakes for fillies and mares in the Adelaide carnival in May.
She was not the only former group 1 winning mare to snap back to form, as former Vinery Stud Stakes winner Shout The Bar also scored for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.