Impressive Class at Randwick trials
CHRIS Waller’s proven Group 1 stars Shoot Out and Rangirangdoo turned in pleasing hitouts but it was imported stablemate Class Is Class that had trackwatchers turning heads after yesterday’s Rosehill trials.
Rangirangdoo and Shoot Out are likely to clash in the George Main Stakes next month before going separate ways. Both are nominated for the Cox Plate but Waller is looking no further than Sydney at this stage.
Class Is Class, an $81 Caulfield Cup chance, worked home stylishly to finish third behind Sincero and Ahdashim in his 1030m heat.
The son of Montjeu is the highest rated import to enter Waller’s stables. He hasn’t raced since easily winning a Group 3 at Haydock 12 months ago, capping a campaign that also included an easy Listed win over 2000m at Sandown.
He has a peak Timeform rating of 120, which compares favourably to the 115 mark My King- dom Of Fife had in Europe before graduating to Group 1 class under Waller in Australia.
The figure also rates highly against the figures Dunaden (116) and December Draw (107) brought to Australia last year. Waller was keen to hose down any potential boom on Class Is Class, expressing some surprise at the way he trialled.
‘‘He hasn’t shown us that much at home yet,’’ he said.
‘‘He can be a little hot at home and I think he might have trialled above himself.
‘‘The Metropolitan will come up too quick for him, he will start off in a handicap race in Sydney but you probably won’t see his best until he gets up to 2200m or 2400m.’’
Rangirangdoo has been plagued by injuries in the past two years, but showed he’s on track for another big race tilt when finishing third to the speedy Dee’N’Gee in a trial that also featured Shoot Out and Streama.
‘‘I’m just happy he has come back injury free,’’ Waller said.
‘‘It is the first time he has gone to the paddock without a problem. His run in the Queen Elizabeth was very good off a slow tempo.
‘‘Since that run he has only had a six-week break, he has virtually come back half fit and ready to go. It makes things a lot easier when you are not starting from scratch.’’
Jockey Corey Brown said: ‘‘Rangi is like a bottle of red wine, just keeps getting better with age.
‘‘I was surprised at how competitive he was, he was very keen to get going and felt great.’’
‘‘Even coming back after we pulled up, he wanted to grab the bit and race the horses back to the stalls. Last preparation he went out with no issues and I think it has made a big difference with him.’’
Waller said Shoot Out ‘‘had a good blow’’ and would likely trial again before resuming in the Theo Marks Stakes on September 15.
Michael Rodd has been booked for the ride on Sincero when he resumes in the Memsie Stakes. – The Courier-Mail