WALLER CHANNELLING FORMER STAR WITH DERBY WINNER
PREMIER trainer Chris Waller will follow the lead set by a former stable star when deciding autumn plans for Victoria Derby winner Manzoice.
Manzoice emerged as a staying talent during the spring when jockey Michael Dee guided the colt to Derby glory at only his sixth start.
Manzoice was a winner over 1300m at his second start in August but Waller said the son of Almanzor was unlikely to fire at the highest level until he raced over much more ground.
Waller said Manzoice was remarkably similar to his other Victoria Derby winner
Preferment. He said Manzoice would follow a similar program to Preferment in the autumn.
“He’s going along nicely and has had a jumpout,” Waller said.
“He’ll progress through to the Rosehill Guineas and the Derby up here in Sydney.
“I wouldn’t think he’d be too prominent until he gets up to 2000m and beyond.
“He’s very much in the mould of Preferment.
“He ended up being a really good 2000m horse and they’re almost identical types.
“He’s got enough speed to win shorter races but they’re better at that level over further.”
Preferment was narrowly beaten in the 2015 Rosehill Guineas but returned as a four-year-old to win the Group 2 Hill Stakes and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m.
Preferment also won the 2016 Australian Cup and The BMW later that year in a career that reaped more than $3.4m in stakes.
Waller said Manzoice could tackle the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.
TAB has Manzoice at $11 in both the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby markets.
Outstanding galloper Hitotsu won both the Victoria Derby and Australian Derby last season.