Premier trainer Chris Waller will win much bigger race this season than a 2000m benchmark race on the first day of the season, but few will mean more than Matusalem carrying his family silks of 100 years to victory at Rosehill.
Waller had started the new season with wins from Medastsu in Saturday’s opener and I Am Famous before Matusalem saluted.
Matusalem carries the Waller family silks to victory at Rosehill.Credit: Getty Images
“I’m not really a fast starter to the season usually,” Waller said before pausing after making it a winning treble for the afternoon.
His voice trembled as the meaning of Matusalem’s third win hit him. He first remembered his dad John who died last year and the tradition of the colours.
They stemmed back to his great-grandfather Fred with a jumper named Aurora Borealis that won the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase-Great Northern Steeplechase double in 1930.
“They are our family colours and we don’t race many horses in them these days,” Waller said as the tears welled in his eyes.
“He was dad’s last horse. He didn’t race many, but it is special to see those colours win here. It’s a very proud moment.
“Matusalem is named after dad’s favourite rum … my family has been racing horses in New Zealand in those colours for more than 100 years. It means a lot.”
Matusalem ($4.80), which is raced by Waller’s sister Megan among others, came from back in the field with stablemate Monarchs Brae ($11) before he drew clear to win by a half-length. Blackcomb ($7.50) was 2½ lengths back in third.
Williamsburg makes winning start as a gelding
Gerald Ryan pointed out that Williamsburg become a millionaire in scoring his fifth win and first as a gelding at Rosehill on Saturday.
The beautiful bred Snitzel five-year-old had been placed in the Champagne Stakes at two and the Rosehill Guineas at three, and consistently raced in black type company.
The decision to geld Williamsburg had waited until the end of his four-year-old season, when even Ryan questioned his endeavour when third in the Lord Mayors Cup in June.
“It was the first time I thought he really didn’t put in, and he was done a couple of days later,” Ryan said. “He is still a millionaire after today; that’s not bad for a non-winner.
“It was tough decision, but I think it was the right one.”
Williamsburg ($7.50) went to the front and extended the margin when Tyler Schiller asked for an effort. He scored by three-quarters of a length from Estadio Mestalla ($4.80), which held off Joe Pride stablemate Testator Silens ($3.60) for the minor money.
The win was Williamsburg’s first in more than 670 days and Ryan said there are plenty of options for him heading into spring. The Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury later in the month is his next stop.
“He’s a Five Diamonds horse; he could get into a Big Dance,” Ryan said.
“He’s run well in an Epsom before when he wasn’t in real good form … there are plenty of races for him.”
Cosmonova completes a winter set for Pride
Joe Pride started the winter with high hopes for three fillies – The Black Cloud, In Flight and Cosmonova – and all three have confirmed the Warwick Farm trainer’s opinion of them with city wins.
The Black Cloud, which went to Flemington for a victory, and BOBS horse-of-the-year In Flight had already been earmarked with black-type ability, and Cosmonova joined them on Saturday at Rosehill.
“We had three fillies that we thought were above average at the start of the winter and, although this girl is small, my head trackwork rider thought she was the best of them,” Pride said. “It has taken her that little longer to get that win, but she has it now and she can go for a break off that win.
“We haven’t bottomed any of them, and there is room for real improvement in their next preparations, so it is a little exciting.”
Reece Jones got the timing right on Cosmonova ($9.50) after racing on the back of Dipsy Doodle ($4.80) and giving her two lengths start into the straight. It took until a couple of strides from the post when Jones got Cosmonova’s head down on the line to win by a short half-head, with $2.35 favourite Vivy Air left 1¼ lengths back in third.
“I always thought I was going to get the leader but she gave a good kick,” Jones said. “My little filly was there for the fight and there is more to come from her.”
Lonhro’s Queen spells for Country Championships
Scone trainer Cameron Crockett is eying the Country Championships after Lonhro’s Queen won her second Highway Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.
Lonhro’s Queen ($5.50) scored a strong half-length win from Super Norwest ($17) and Cool Storm ($13).
“We will put her out now, the timing is right,” Crockett said. “If she can run 1400m we will aim for [the Country Championships Qualifier] at Tamworth,” Crockett said. “If she can’t run 1400m then we will find something else. She has a lot of ability, so there will be plenty of options.”
Jason Collett also believes there is plenty more left in Lonhro’s Queen.
“She is the sort of horse that you go to Tamworth to ride if she gets there. She is only going to get better,” he said.
I Am Famous to keep racing after striking form
Owner Ross Visalli will spurn a date with Snitzel for I Am Legend after the half-sister to Everest winner Classique Legend continued to hit her straps on the track.
The I Am Invincible four-year-old, which was a $2 million Inglis Easter purchase, made it a hat-trick of wins leading all- the way at Rosehill on Saturday and, like her famous brother, is getting better with age.
“I bought her not as a couple of years project but a 10 to 15-year project because of the family,” Visalli said. “She had a booking to Snitzel this season but we decided to keep her racing. She is a nice horse, and you have to remember Classique Legend was only lightly raced at four and was at his best at five. She is an investment for my family for years to come.”
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