In a bid to recapture the colt Beiwacht’s Golden Rose magic, Chris Waller will apply the methods that worked wonders for him previously.
Having endured a couple of runs without distinction on Flemington’s straight course, the three-year-old Bivouac gelding — wait, colt — has rejoined Sydney ranks and bolsters Waller’s robust entry for the $750,000 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) this Saturday at Randwick.
The engagement is Beiwacht’s Sydney comeback since dominating last year’s Group 1 Golden Rose, then fourth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) of November, and a disappointing last on resumption in last month’s Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).
“It just didn’t work out down the straight,” Waller said.
“He’s got a very high cruising speed, but probably not high enough to be racing against 1000-metre horses.
“I think it’s more a 12 to 1500-metre cruising speed, where he can sustain it.
“We’ve got to get him back into that type of racing and we thought the Canterbury Stakes was the best option.
“His win the Golden Rose in a similar type of race, his rating was through the roof – like, world-standard – so we’ve just got to try and simulate that and get back to that level.”
Beiwacht rewrote the Rosehill 1400m record books in the Golden Rose, storming home over four lengths clear of fellow stable runner Wodeton and prized filly Tempted, who claimed last weekend’s Group 1 Surround Stakes.
Beiwacht represents one of three from Waller in the Canterbury Stakes field, with Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah also declared.
These champion mares chase the Canterbury Stakes on the back of first-up results of first and third in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) held February 14, displays that Waller relished.
“They both ran well first-up, Joliestar was awesome and she’s come through it well,” he said.
“The 1300 will suit her and Lady Shenandoah was brilliant first-up as well.
“It was a slowly-run race and she got in a spot where she just needed a bit of time to get out of (but) she was strong to the line.”
Alongside the Randwick Guineas, the Canterbury Stakes headlines Randwick’s Group 1 action this Saturday, where Waller saddles the favourite Autumn Boy in the Guineas.
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