Waller’s Wine Bush hits his straps

The Victoria Derby awaits the Chris Waller-trained Wine Bush after he turned his form around by winning Sunday’s $120,000 listed UCI Stakes (1800m) for three-year-olds at Flemington.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman and owned by the sons and daughters of Bob Ingham, Wine Bush settled fifth and found plenty under pressure to edge out Rocketeer and win by a nose.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Highlad was the best of the on-pacers, finishing third a further two lengths away. The UCI Stakes was his first run in a month and he is sure to derive plenty of benefit ahead of his next start.

Waller said that Wine Bush came to Melbourne as a maiden but was now one of a handful of Victoria Derby hopefuls for the stable, including Gloaming Stakes winner Veldaero and High Mist.

“It has been that wet over winter it’s been hard getting a line on the form, but he’s a big scopey High Chaparral who always looked like a derby horse,” said Waller. – Racing.com