Myer Classic victory gives Red Tracer 2nd Group 1 win

High class Sydney mare Red Tracer scored her second Group 1 win with a last stride victory in the $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington today.

Red Tracer noses out stablemate Catkins in the Myer Classic Stakes at Flemington.

Red Tracer, black cap, noses out stablemate Catkins in the Myer Classic Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Red Tracer’s win also wrapped up a memorable day for Sydney’s top trainer Chris Waller who earlier had taken out the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) with $20 million colt  Zoustar.

After a quick getaway, Nash Rawiller was able to settle Red Tracer behind stable mate Catkins and You’re So Good before easing her over the leaders heels at the 300m to drive her to the line for her first win at 1600m.

Rawiller had to work hard on Red Tracer ($3.10 favourite) over the concluding stages to nail Catkins ($8) by a nose to give Waller a Group 1 quinella with Fire Up Fifi ($6.50) putting in a top effort to finish third.

“She’s a very dominant mare,” Rawiller said.

“She deserves it. She makes her own luck.”

Waller had to keep a close watch on the finish, not sure which one of his mares was to be dominant today.

“The last hundred metres it became quite clear that they were going to fight out the finish,” Waller said.

“I though Catkins had the upper hand, to Red Tracer’s credit she could pull her back. It was a very proud moment.”

Waller was proud of both the mares and predicts that Catkins will be the next Group 1 mare to come out of the all-conquering Sydney stable.

“And I think Catkins will be the next Red Tracer and her turn will certainly come,” Waller said.

Red Tracer made it back to back wins durjng the Melbourne Spring Carnival after taking out the Group 2 $220,000 Yellowglen Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 19 while Catkins also has winning Spring form coming off a victory in the Group 3 $150,000 Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last week.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.