Epsom quinella as Waller dominates

Former New Zealand trainer Chris Waller trained the quinella in the Epsom Handicap, with He’s Your Man beating Royal Descent in a group one thriller at Randwick yesterday.

Giving top international jockey Joao Moreira his first Australian group one win, He’s Your Man left it until the final stride to nab his stablemate.

“We got it right today . . . both horses ran very well,” Waller, who saddled four runners said.

He’s Your Man raced in the second half of the field and was deep but with cover before Moreira eased him out at the 400m.

He gave Royal Descent two lengths start before levelling up in a finish that was as deceptive as it was close.

Royal Descent was hailed the winner when she chimed in at the 200m and her defeat continues a sequence of frustrating group one placings since her ATC Australian Oaks win in 2013.

Hooked, having his first start for new owners after he was sold at Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm auction during the week, ran a brave race to finish third after sitting wide.

Waller said He’s Your Man was likely to be set for the Mackinnon Stakes while he is hoping Royal Descent can force her way into the Cox Plate field.

Meanwhile at Flemington another of Waller’s charges Moriarty claimed the scalp of Caulfield Cup fancy Rising Romance in the Craven Plate and in doing so might have catapulted himself into contention for the Melbourne race.

The horse’s narrow win in Saturday’s Randwick weight-for-age race puts him on the borderline of gaining a Caulfield Cup start.

Waller’s instinct is to target the Mackinnon Stakes but he has refused to rule out running Moriarty in the 2400-metre handicap.

“I’m not going to let all the English horses get in. If Moriarty wants to go around he can go around if horses like [stablemate and another winner on the day] Who Shot Thebarman can’t,” Waller said.

Moriarty’s win gave Waller his second stakes win of the afternoon after Brazen Beau claimed the Roman Consul Stakes.