2013 Doncaster Handicap winner Sacred Falls will return to the races in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on August 24.
Sacred Falls will have his first start since winning the Doncaster Handicap in the Warwick Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Sacred Falls was given a very quiet trial over 795 metres at Royal Randwick on Friday and finished at the tail of the field behind winner Rebel Dane and Group 1 winning stablemates Shoot Out and Royal Descent.
Trainer Chris Waller told the New Zealand Racing Desk that he was very happy with the trial performance of the O’Reilly colt and believes the rising four-year-old is progressing nicely towards the start of his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
“He had a nice quiet trial to help his fitness levels along and put him under a bit of pressure,” Waller said.
“Tommy Berry said he gave him a great feel and stretched out nicely.”
The Warwick Stakes will be Sacred Fall’s first race start since his upset victory in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on April 20.
The colt clearly relished the heavy track at Randwick and ran on strongly in the final stages of the race to score a three-quarter length victory from Pierro and Norzita.
Sacred Falls started his career with an amazing run of six straight victories in New Zealand that was highlighted by wins in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Group 1 New Zealand Guineas (1600m).
He was transferred to the stable of Chris Waller in Sydney at the end of 2012 and his winning streak was snapped in his first run in Australia, when he finished a disappointing fifth behind Rebel Dane in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m).
After another poor performance in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), Sacred Falls returned to his best form with a second place finish behind three-year-old Triple Crown winner It’s A Dundeel in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and broke though for his first Australian victory in the famous mile at Randwick at his next start.
The spring carnival plans for Sacred Falls have not been finalised but Waller announced at the start of the month that the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) was on the agenda.
