Declichy Boulevard has secured a fifth win for the day for Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller, finishing strongly to take out the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Royal Randwick.
Although Chris Waller was at Flemington, his stable’s success was undeniable at Randwick. It commenced with a one-two finish from his two-year-olds, Exo Velocity and Tour De Force, in the Kirkham Plate. The winners continued to accumulate for the Waller stable, with Central Europe proving very impressive in the Group 3 $1 million Callander-Presnell (1600m), and Lindermann achieving his third consecutive victory in the Group 2 $750,000 Craven Plate (1800m). Lazzura then showcased her talent in the Group 2 $2 million The Invitation (1400m), before Declichy Boulevard’s triumph rounded off a remarkable winning day for the Hall of Fame trainer.
At Flemington, Waller also trained Soverato to victory in the Group 3 $300,000 Tesio Stakes (1600m). His stablemates, Birdman and Aeliana, claimed second and third places respectively in the prestigious Group 1 $6 million Cox Plate (2040m).
“All the hard work that they put in, Chris and the whole team, to have days like this, it is a day to remember, it is certainly a red letter day for the stable,” commented Waller’s stable representative, Darren Beadman.
Declichy Boulevard ($3.20) delivered Waller his fifth Randwick winner after she outpaced Linebacker ($3.10 favourite) by a long neck. Welcometotheshow ($6) finished a further one-and-a-half lengths behind in third.
Linebacker had taken a forward position and found room between runners at the top of the straight, establishing what seemed a winning advantage. However, Declichy Boulevard unleashed a potent late surge.
“With her pattern of racing, the race set up for her with a good speed up-front and a lot of pressure early,” Beadman said of Declichy Boulevard’s racing style. “She just sat back there, Tommy (Berry, jockey) was back there smoking his pipe, then got her into a three-wide line with cover and she chimed into it ‘lovely’.”
“She has always been a quality mare but has had a few injuries along the way. The owners gave the time to get over it and they are reaping the rewards now.”
Star jockey Tommy Berry achieved a significant accomplishment, winning two major races consecutively for Waller on Lazzura and Declichy Boulevard. This completed his own feature-race treble, having also won the Listed $200,000 Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) aboard the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Revolina.
Berry acknowledged the advice received from stable jockey James McDonald regarding the ride on Declichy Boulevard. “I had a good chat with James (McDonald, jockey) during the week and he said just bank on her turn of foot,” Berry shared. “He said don’t ride her out of her comfort zone but she tested my patience there. She began so well and I had to give up what was a good start but I just knew I couldn’t be caught wide.”
“They ran along early, pulled up in the middle stages but then I got a beautiful cart into the race on the back of Brave One. But she had to do a good job to pick up the second horse. Linebacker is a good tough campaigner and he’s a Group 1 winner. I don’t think it is going to be too long before you see her in the Group 1 circle, too.”
Declichy Boulevard is now expected to feature in the Group 3 $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 7. Beadman believes Declichy Boulevard has the necessary form and fitness to maintain her winning performance over the 1800m.
“The 1800m at Rosehill is like a mile at Randwick,” he stated. “So, especially being back at her home track it will work out perfectly for her.”
With Declichy Boulevard in such fine form, consider exploring the betting markets for the Five Diamonds at leading betting sites.
