Sixties, the skilled colt, put on a clinic with his win, delivering trainer Chris Waller a record ninth victory in the showcase three-year-old race; notably, his preceding eight were fillies led by the iconic Winx from 2015.
Waller previously succeeded with Foxplay (2017), Unforgotten (2018), Verry Elleegant (2019), Funstar (2020), Hungry Heart (2021), Zougotcha (2023) and Lazzura (2025).
Starting as the $1.65 top pick, Sixties worked hard at the jump to navigate from a wide post and sit off the leader, with star jockey James McDonald in charge before guiding the colt home three-quarters of a length clear of Federalist ($41), who rallied late, and Cellarmaster ($26) a half-length back in third.
Merely 35 minutes later, Waller and McDonald completed a double by taking the Group 1 Coolmore Classic on Lazzura.
Waller’s unparalleled streak in the Phar Lap Stakes endures, as those eight fillies all progressed to Group 1 triumphs.
The promising Sixties can follow suit as Waller’s ninth Phar Lap Stakes star at Group 1 in the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) scheduled for Royal Randwick on April 4.
Sixties gains entry to the Doncaster carrying a light 49kg, safe from re-handicapping after his Phar Lap Stakes win.
Waller has engaged Rachel King to ride the colt in the Doncaster.
Building on a strong third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, Sixties proved his mettle with a gritty Phar Lap Stakes effort.
“Things didn’t really work out in the Australian Guineas, like today, he’s had bad draws and it just makes it harder,” Waller said.
I think his best win was when we rode him quiet. But today, being a short priced favourite, we’ve got three weeks into the Doncaster I thought ‘oh well we’ll try you up again on the speed.’
“But ideally in the Doncaster we’ll ride him more conservatively. He’s got to go to a new level in the Doncaster but he’s very well weighted.”
McDonald, claiming a record sixth Phar Lap Stakes and his fifth for Waller, hailed Sixties in the aftermath.
“He would be a lot better off being a bit further back in the run,” Waller said.
“But obviously he’s a classy horse, he’s just come on leaps and bounds from each run he’s had and he’s a gorgeous colt to boot.
When ridden a bit quieter you’d really see a lethal performance. Obviously it was a bit tradesman-like today but there’s room to improve.”
McDonald is confident of Sixties’ chances in the Doncaster Mile at 49kg.
“If he’s ridden three or four pairs back in a Doncaster on nice ground he would come out and run extremely well,” McDonald said.
“Ideally, I think his best trip is six furlongs to 1400m and he’s just getting that mile on ability at the moment.
“But he travelled really comfortably today, he’s just so honest, you can’t teach that. He’s got a heart of a lion.”
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