The transition of Warnie to a gelding has been a crucial element in the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper’s development into a more relaxed individual, a change that is now translating effectively onto the racetrack.
Warnie maintained a calm demeanour during the Group 3 Chautauqua Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Wednesday, before unleashing a formidable finishing effort.
Wednesday’s Group 3 race was originally scheduled for Saturday’s Moir Stakes program at Sandown, but the final two races were washed out due to heavy rainfall.
The four-day delay in running the race did not pose any issue for Warnie ($3.70), who, under jockey Mark Zahra, appreciated the solid pace to run down his stablemate Tennessee Bound ($4.20) by 1-¼ lengths. Amenable ($7.50) finished a long neck behind in third.
Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, stated that Warnie’s victory on Wednesday was dominant and confirmed the gelding is now set for the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19.
“There was good speed and Tennessee Bound had a bit of company upfront, and she was gallant in defeat, but to see Warnie sit back and have a few lengths to make up and quicken the way he did and eased down late, it was impressive,” Turnbull said.
“The 1400 (metres) to a mile is his go and he’s a horse that is held in high regard. He took a little while to get there when he was a colt, but now a gelding, it’s terribly exciting for all the connections.”
Turnbull further explained that being gelded had allowed Warnie to relax more effectively and curbed his previously energetic disposition.
“He was always a horse that was full in the bridle and very strong, both at home and on race day,” Turnbull said.
“He’s softened, gone from (needing) a Norton bit back to a crossover noseband and he’s just grown up essentially.
“When he reserves himself in the first half, he has that turn of foot in the second half.”
Turnbull indicated that the stable was aware of the shortened timeframe between the Chautauqua Stakes and the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, with the latter now being only 10 days away instead of the initially planned 14.
Consequently, the stable advised Zahra to ride with consideration for the quick turnaround.
“It wasn’t ideal that we got pushed back from Saturday, but everybody was in the same boat,” Turnbull said.
Zahra commented that although the field was small, he was pleased with the strong pace set in the race.
“They were flying along and I’ve ridden him before and he’s a horse that races best ridden dead cold,” Zahra said.
“If you do that, he absolutely flies home and I just rode him like that today and once I got him out to the good ground, he looked the winner a long way out.”
Compare racing odds from various Australian betting sites for upcoming events.