February 4, 2018Winning Return for Newhaven Park Sold 2YO Star Performer
Short priced favourite Performer returned to racing in the Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens and the handsome chestnut scored a determined victory to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Carrying a 3kg penalty for his win in the Listed Breeders’ Plate at Randwick back in October, Performer looked set for a comfortable win when coming with a well-timed run by Kerrin McEvoy, but he found a willing opponent in China Horse Club’s $925,000 Snitzel colt Stratosphere who rallied back in the closing stages to run the favourite to a nose.
Waller said he gives the chestnut son of Exceed And Excel a pass mark on his fighting effort.
“Putting everything into perspective, we’ve still got a long way to go until where we hope he gets to which is the Golden Slipper,” Waller said.
“I was worried before the race. When I saw them going around in the parade ring I just thought, ‘how good do these horses look?’
“But he’s an exciting horse to be training ahead of a big autumn carnival and we wouldn’t change him for anything.”
Waller favours the Group II Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 10 as Performer’s Golden Slipper lead-up run.
A $450,000 Magic Millions purchase for Harras Syndicate / Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft, Performer runs for a syndicate of loyal Waller stable clients.
The son of Exceed And Excel is a half-brother to Group I Galaxy Stakes winner Bel Sprinter and is the fourth winner from Snippets mare Gavroche.
Newhaven Park swing back into sales action this week with a draft of 18 for Inglis Classic, click here to see them.
Article: Tara Madgwick 4/02/2018 Image: Lisa Grimm @Turfstars