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Source: racenet.com.au
The Australian Guineas shapes as an old-school Melbourne and Sydney battle after the Chris Waller-trained Sixties’ dominant win in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Observer is the $2.50 favourite to add the Australian Guineas to his Victoria Derby trophy while Sixties became the $3.50 second favourite after his CS Hayes Stakes win.
Making his Victorian debut, Sixties had 1-ΒΌ lengths to spare over developing Ballarat galloper Asakura, but the Chris Waller-trained colt could have won by further with a softer run.
Sixties jumped from barrier nine and was consigned to race wide without cover but the son of Flying Artie still proved too strong for his rivals, justifying his $1.60 favouritism.
Waller’s representative, former riding legend Darren Beadman, said Sixties passed the champion trainer’s test, booking his place in the Australian Guineas on February 28.
“I think that is Chris’s short-term plan for him,” Beadman said.
“Today was a bit of a test for him, this way of going on the circle.
“The Australian Guineas looks the ideal race for him.”
Beadman said the manner of Sixties’ win after racing wide showed the colt, a brother to the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius, had the ability to win better races than Saturday’s Group 3 contest.
“It’s a difficult task to sit three-wide here (at Flemington) from 1400 (metres),” Beadman said.
“You pretty much start on the circle and you’re turning the whole time.
“He had the audacity to show a nice turn of foot, pin his ears back.
“He’s an exciting galloper.”