Champion trainer Chris Waller has put a big wrap on first starter Wonderful Story who is set to run in the $250,000 Inglis Classic at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Chris Waller has a high opinion of first starter Wonderful Story in the Inglis Classic at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.
“I think he is a pretty good horse. A good colt,” Waller said.
“Starting to get a few two year olds around us now that are ready to put their hand up.
“Watch this one he is a pretty handy one.”
Wonderful Story, a colt by Street Sense, has had two recent barrier trials at Rosehill for a second and a one and a quarter lengths won in preparation for his race day debut.
James McDonald was aboard the colt for his two barrier trials but Tim Clark has been called up for race day.
While Clark has never been on his back, he was witness to his barrier trial win and was very impressed with what he saw.
“I’ve never ridden him but I’ve watched his trials and he went really well,” Clark told Racing NSW news.
“He’s above average and I’m looking forward to riding him.
“This is the time of the year that Chris starts to bring out his better two-year-olds and we saw that on Wednesday with Earth [runner-up at Canterbury Park which ran well.”
Wonderful Story has drawn nine in the capacity sixteen horse field and Clark is hoping that there is plenty of speed on in the early stages to give him a chance to get a sit just off the pace.
“With a big field there should be a lot of speed on and he’ll take a sit in behind them,” Clark said.
“The barrier doesn’t worry me, but first-up over 1200 metres on a wet track worries me more. The horse seems to handle the wet though.”
The Randwick track was rated a Heavy 8 on Thursday morning after receiving 28.8mm in the last seven days, including 8.6mm in the last twenty-four hours, with more showers forecast before the weekend.
Wonderful Story was installed the early favourite at $3.50 for the Inglis Classic when the field was released on Wednesday morning and has firmed into $3.20 at Ladbrokes.com.au on Thursday.
The Kris Lees trained Twist Tops is on the second line of betting at $4.20 ahead of the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Rampage at $6.
Twist Tops has been to the races three times and is coming off a handy last start second to smart filly Scarlet Rain in a 1000m two year old Plate at Randwick on January 23.
While Rampage was a winner on debut in a 1000m Moonee Valley two year Plate on November 28 followed by a third to Extreme Choice in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 12.
Inglis Classic market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Wonderful Story, $4.20 Twist Tops, $6 Rampage, $9 Soviet Secret, Rapha’s Choice, $16 Cogliere, $17 Walk Right In, $31 Man To Love, Flash Fibian, Chimboraa, China Plate, $41 Our Belisa, $51 Maddison Avenue, $61 Can’t Find Snippy, Engaging, $71 Dream Faith.
Wonderful Story is currently a $51 chance for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19, but his price would shorten dramatically if he was to score impressively in the Inglis Classic.
