Randwick track watchers are tipping another bold performance from Wandjina in Saturday’s Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Wandjina continues to work well in the lead up to the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Wandjina is having his first run since leading all of the way to win the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 7 and the three year old is set to take on the older horses at weight for age on the last day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Randwick trackman Nic Ashman wrote in The Daily Telegraph that the Gai Waterhouse trained colt was one of the star workers on Tuesday morning when he completed a 1200m gallop on the course proper.
“Group 1-winning colt Wandjina produced a rousing gallop at Randwick on Tuesday,” Ashman wrote.
“He worked over 1200m on Randwick’s course proper running the trip in 1:21.2 and he did it comfortably. Wandjina’s last 600m was covered in 37.7s and final 200m in 11.7s, which was among the sharper times of the morning.”
Wandjina’s work rider Steve O’Halloran was also thrilled with the hit out and described the gallop as ‘fantastic’ on Waterhouse’s blog on her website.
Waterhouse is also pleased with the way the Snitzel colt has come through his Australian Guineas win and sees him as a strong chance again.
“This colt has freshened up well after his Group One win and he will be tough to beat on Saturday.” Waterhouse said on her blog.
Waterhouse always had a huge opinion of Wandjina who she took to Melbourne during the Spring Carnival last year where the colt ran third in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield before finishing tenth to Adelaide in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Damien Oliver rode the colt two starts back when he dictated from the front to win the Group 3 $150,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 21 and is back aboard in the All Aged Stakes replacing Hong Kong based Brett Prebble who steered him to his Australian Guineas victory.
Wandjina has drawn out wide in the thirteen horse field and no doubt Oliver will let the free striding colt go to the front again from gate twelve.
