When you’re hot you’re hot and Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller certainly is after back to back Group wins thanks to Vintedge in the Group 2 $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington today.
Waller won the feature Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes with Albert The Fat just 35 mintues earlier and both wins came in similar styles with different jockeys.
While Mark Zahra rode Albert The Fat, it was Nash Rawiller aboard Vintedge.
It was consolation for Rawiller who has had a shocking week after losing a suspension appeal on Monday and missing the Melbourne Cup ride on Unusual Suspect.
While that Cup ride probably didn’t cost Rawiller a great deal financially, the roundabouts of jockeying cost him the ride on Albert The Fat in the Emirates.
Rawiller was booked to ride the seven-year-old before the suspension.
Waller then offered that ride to Damien Oliver.
Rawiller, after having time shaved off his suspension, was then booked on Waller’s second stringer Danleigh in the Emirates.
When Oliver was suspended, Zahra picked up the ride on Albert The Fat as Rawiller was already committed.
The Matriarch was also redemption for Vintedge who was beaten a nose on Tuesday by Foxstar in a $100,000 mares race.
“She deserved it, after Tuesday I wasn’t complimentary towards Flemington but it certainly changed pretty quickly in four days,” Waller said.
“She had a tough draw and full credit to Nash, he got her there at the right time.
“Nash has had a tough week, he was going to ride Albert The Fat but through a chain of events he missed out.
“I said to him before that I am really sorry (for missing out on Albert The Fat) and he, a true gentleman, said not to worry.
“That is Nash Rawiller, he is one of the best in the game.”
Rawiller dragged Vintedge to last from barrier 20 while Dance With Her set a quick speed in front.
The pace set it up for the swoopers and three emerged in the home straight.
Stole who had settled midfield, hit the front at the 400m while Vintedge, out widest, and Skyerush weaving a passage closer to the fence, emerged.
At the 200m it was clear Vintegde ($11) was going best as it swept to the front to beat Stole ($26) by two lengths with Skyerush ($3.20 fav) another three quarters away third.
