Francesco Guardi, which gains another leg in Melbourne, promises to be Chris Waller’s next headliner following the departure of Nature Strip.
Francesco Guardi continues his path to the Melbourne Cup in the group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington over 1600 metres on Saturday.
Francesco Guardi wins the Moonee Valley Cup on October 22 last year.Credit: Racing Photos / Getty Images
“Francesco Guardi is a much better horse on the Melbourne leg,” the champion horseman told the Hoof On the Till podcast, a statement that is confirmed by the Frankel gelding’s efforts down south last spring.
Waller also has a strong hand at Royal Randwick in the 7 Stakes with the mares Fangirl, Going Great and Hinged.
Alas, today’s excellent opening to the $87 million Everest Carnival at Randwick and to spring racing at Flemington comes at a period of change and dissention: track gallops will start later on racecourses here next year (yucky to old timers, who preferred to train in the dark), and the release of a report by Racing Victoria on physical and sexual abuse in racing, trotting and greyhounds. Victoria languishes while NSW booms.
Francesco Guardia takes on strong opposition, including Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood and Waller stablemates Osipenko and Princess Grace. The latter is from the United States, and her Aussie form has been excellent.
On the corresponding day last year, Waller triumphed in The Shorts at Randwick with Nature Strip. Keeping Nature Strip going so fast for so long was his finest training feat – even better than Winx. With the champ, the trainer had a better foundation.
Nature Strip recently retired as a nine-year-old after accumulating $20,755,010 at an average of $471,932 every time he raced.
Prior to Nature Strip, Waller developed Verry Elleegant into an 11-time group 1 winner, including a Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
Understandably, Waller boxed clever, bobbed and weaved, regarding the stable’s next superstar considering the potential under his wing.
But he warned that Osipenko is a group 1 horse, although he lacks the record of his rivals today, particularly Mr Brightside, which has Craig Williams in the hot seat following his defeat on Everest champion Giga Kick in the McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
Under the circumstances, Williams conceded it was a regretful ride, that he went too hard, too soon. He did not offer that pathetic bleat of “bad luck”.
Williams regards Giga Kick as a “freak” and handled him like a good thing, which, as it transpired, the gelding wasn’t. Mr Brightside has scored at his last two attempts under Williams.
Francesco Guardi, with Damian Lane up, will be having his second start this preparation following a 3.2-length tenth to Fangirl in the Winx Stakes at Randwick.
The Irish-bred began tardy, was awkward in his action, and ended up inside on slower ground. Francesco Guardi gets synthetic hoof filler on Saturday (a gear change I am not all that comfortable with, but hopefully he is).
Navigation is particularly vital in weight-for-age events, and Fangirl, which can also be slow at the start, will require all of Kerrin McEvoy’s expertise in the 7 Stakes in place of the injured James McDonald, who scored on the mare last start.
Waller has been a playmaker for the later starts to Sydney track gallops, which the Australian Turf Club pronounced a “most significant shift in the history of Sydney racing”.
Randwick goes from 4am to 5am, Rosehill 4.45am to 5.30am, and Warwick Farm 4am to 5am.
According to Waller, 6am would have been more convenient but a “step too far”. He stressed that the move will advantage the efforts to employ more strappers.
NSW, anyway, provides a better working environment for stable staff now than ever before.
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