Vanbrugh – a good win
Chris Waller’s unstoppable winning run has continued with Vanbrugh claiming the $500 000 Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday.
Ridden by Glyn Schofield, Vanbrugh ($2.50) defeated Queensland visitor I’m Belucci ($21) by 1-1/4 lengths, with Man Of Choice ($8) a nose away in third.
Vanbrugh had to break a hoodoo for favourites in the Group One race, with the most recent Platinum Scissors saluting in 2002.
But Schofield said he went into the race believing he was on the right horse.
“In these three-year-old races over a bit of ground, you want to know that you are going to get the line well so there is no point pushing the button too soon,” he said.
Glyn Schofield – Knew he was on right horse
“I had to let what happened in front of me happen and know that I was on the best horse and he was going to run over the top of them.
“I wanted to make sure I had enough gas in the tank to run over the top of them in the last furlong and he proved too strong.”
The victory was the 52nd Group One for Waller, who later on Saturday trained his 53rd with Press Statement in the Caulfield Guineas.
Vanbrugh is rated the $5 equal favourite for the Victoria Derby alongside Tarzino, who was an unlucky seventh in the Guineas.
The Spring Champion was Vanbrugh’s seventh run this preparation and the Waller stable has yet to decide if he will press on to Melbourne.
“I think we will discuss that with the owners over the next few days and for now just savour the Group One because they are hard to win,” said stable spokesman Liam Prior.
“For a colt like him who’s relatively untapped and is going to be a much better horse in the autumn, he’s got his Group One now.
Robbue Fradd – elusive Gr1 in Australia
“He could quite possibly push on to the Derby, and on the strength of today’s win I guess why not.”
Fellow South African Robbie Fradd rode Too Good To Refuse in the same race, who eventually finished fifth.
50 year old Fradd, who has ridden Group One winners in South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore was bidding for his first Gr1 score in Australia.
www.abc.net.au – additional by SP Editorial Staff
