Chris Waller handled himself like a Group 1 performer on Sky Channel’s Racing Retro on Sunday. Waller trained a stakes winning treble at Doomben on Saturday but deflected the credit for Metal Bender’s Doomben Cup win to the Denham family for giving him a readymade Group 1 winner.
Metal Bender also capped a monster day for Inglis graduates in Brisbane. The Danasinga gelding was the fifth Inglis Group winner in succession on the feature Doomben card. He was the 23rd Group 1 race won by Inglis graduates so far this season.
METAL BENDER ($160,000 2007 Easter) was sold by Waikato Stud and is now a three times Group 1 winner of $1.35 million. He has thrived in Queensland this campaign, having had the best part of a year off after running second in last year’s G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He won the Gold Coast Hollindale Stakes at his previous start.
STRYKER ($600,000 2008 Easter) overcame a wide draw to comprehensively win the G3 Fred Best Classic. Offered for sale by Segenhoe Stud and secured by Ingham Bloodstock, the Fastnet Rock colt outclassed his opponents.
Waller wants to start in the Stradbroke, but is likely to need another race to qualify, with next week’s G1 Doomben 10,000 or the G2 QTC Cup the following week likely options.
PRESSDAY ($38,000 2009 Classic) became the middle leg of the Waller treble when he lived up to strong Sydney formlines when finishing best to claim the G2 Champagne Stakes.
Pressday is by Darley sire Domesday and was a graduate of Glenarvon Park. He will now chase Group 1 riches in next month’s T.J. Smith at Eagle Farm, with a run in the G2 Sires’ Produce on June 5 also pencilled in.
MARHETA ($70,000 2008 Easter II) made full use of her inside alley to win the G3 Doomben Roses and is now one of the leading contenders in next month’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
The Mike Moroney trained filly is by Emirates Park sire Al Maher and joins Group 1 winner Faint Perfume and Group winners Response and Lovemelikearock as fillies purchased from Session II of the Easter Sale in 2008.
ROTHESAY (PI $140,000 2008 Easter) scored an emotional win when proving far too classy in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup. He was offered for sale by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock but was passed in when bidding failed to reach a $150,000 reserve. The Fastnet Rock colt was then retained to race by breeder Sue Suduk, who sadly died after a long illness earlier this month. Trainer Gerald Ryan is now weighing up a Stradbroke or Queensland Guineas start for Rothesay, who is the winner of three races in six starts.