Once Were Wild will head to the Sydney Cup after a brilliant all-the-way win in the G2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on Saturday.  

In a bold front running performance, Once Were Wild led her rivals a merry dance to win with ease from Anudjawun (Yamanin Vital) and C’est La Guerre (Shinko King)

Once Were Wild (4m Johannesburg – Wildesong by Unbridled’s Song) is trained by Gai Waterhouse for a partnership that includes John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud.  She was a $50,000 buy from Kulani Park at the 2008 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale.  

The Group 1 winning mare is one of the highlights among entries for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in June.

“It’s almost a year to the day that she won the AJC Oaks,” trainer Gai Waterhouse said.  “She’s taken an age to strike form and to really get fit.  It was a joy to watch her win and now we’re off to the Sydney Cup.”

Once Were Wild is a half-sister to Malaysian stakes performer Testa Key (Testa Rossa).  Their dam Wildesong was trained by Waterhouse and she bowed out of racing after wins at Warwick Farm and Randwick in January 2003.

Wildesong’s 3yo Disc Jockey (Noverre) was runner-up in the Northern Territory Guineas at Pioneer Park on Saturday.  The mare has a 2yo filly named Wilde Irish Song (Magic Albert) and a weanling colt by California Dane.