Waller’s strategy to smell the roses
CELLARMAN’S ambitious tilt at the Run To The Rose will give trainer Chris Waller a guide on where the colt sits in the stable’s three-year-old pecking order.
Cellarman and former Queenslander Nikitas represent the premier Sydney trainer in the Group 2 race over 1200m at Rosehill.
Waller says the race will give him a guide whether they are Group 1 contenders.
“We’re being a little bit ambitious in starting Cellarman but he’s a worthy contender of being in the Golden Rose if he could run in the first three,” Waller said.
“Saturday will tell me a lot – from there we can go right to the top or if we’ll veer off to the left and target lesser races.”
He said the three-year-old was improving but form around horses stepping up from two to three varied.
“Some improve, some stay the same and some go backwards,” Waller said.
“We’ve got to make sure that he’s one of the ones that goes forward.”
Waller was impressed by Cellarman’s most recent barrier trial but is wary of reading too much into it.
“Everything trialled well in that race, even Sir John Hawkwood who is a stayer,” he said.
Nikitas will be having his first start for Waller after being transferred from Brisbane trainer Kelso Wood.
The horse ran second behind a dominant Capitalist in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast in January before being placed in the Group 2 BRC Sires Produce at Doomben in May.
“He showed a glimpse of his ability in the winter and hopefully now he’s turned three he’s matured a bit and is ready to carry on from that Magic Millions form,” Waller said.
Nikitas is $51 in the Run To The Rose market led by $3.60 favourite Star Turn.
The sleeper among Team Snowden’s star-studded group of three-year-olds is stirring and is set to make everyone sit up and take notice in the Run To The Rose.
Mediterranean doesn’t have the profile of some of his stablemates but that could all change if he wins at Rosehill today.
The result will reshape betting for the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) in two weeks.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden had the Golden Rose favourite before glamour colt Capitalist was withdrawn. Now Mediterranean is ready to step into the void.
“This is a great race, we will see where a few of them sit after this race,’’ Peter Snowden said.
“He is going well. He gets through a wet track OK and we know he will be strong late.
“He will be better again when he gets out to 1400m.’’