Guineas’ piece of history
Riff Rocket will continue following the successful trail illuminated by former champion Mahogany if he wins the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained Riff Rocket won the Victoria Derby last spring then resumed to win the CS Hayes Stakes two weeks ago.
The last horse to win the Victoria Derby-Hayes Stakes double was Mahogany in 1994 and he trained on to win the Australian Guineas and then the AJC (now ATC) Australian Derby.
Mahogany’s dominant classic season resulted in the Lee Freedman-trained gelding earning Horse of the Year honours.
Riff Rocket may not be in Horse of the Year reckoning – not yet at least – but he is poised to emulate Mahogany by claiming a second Group 1 win for the season in the Australian Guineas.
Trainer Chris Waller admitted Riff Rocket surprised him by how well he sprinted fresh in the Hayes Stakes over 1400m.
“Riff Rocket is probably similar to Fangirl – they were well prepared with two (barrier) trials for their first-up runs and I know he likes Flemington,’’ Waller said.
Debbie Kepitis, famous as a part-owner of mighty mare Winx, could be in for a memorable afternoon with the Waller stable as she is the ownerbreeder of Riff Rocket, and she shares in the ownership of Fangirl (Verry Elleegant Stakes) and Australian Guineas hopeful Cap Ferrat.
Waller said Cap Ferrat did enough first-up when closing late for sixth in the Hayes Stakes to indicate he will be competitive getting out to 1600m for the Australian Guineas.
“I thought Cap Ferrat got home quite well the other day,’’ Waller said. “He’s got ability as he showed last spring, running second in the Spring Champion Stakes and the mile will suit him better.’’
Waller is also hopeful of a solid comeback effort from emerging filly Tutta La Vita in the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at the Randwick meeting.
Tutta La Vita showed staying potential talent during spring, finishing third in the Flight Stakes and fourth in the Spring Champion Stakes.
“We’ve given Tutta La Vita a couple of trials and she is set to resume in the Surround. She is going down the Vinery-Oaks path,’’ Waller said.
Meanwhile, Waller confirmed unbeaten two-year-old colt Switzerland, another topliner part-owned by Kepitis, will have his final lead-up to the Golden Slipper in the Todman Stakes at Royal Randwick next week.