Chris Waller appears to have unearthed another star in the making as Tangled flew home to win the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben Racecourse this afternoon.
Tangled was a smart winner for trainer Chris Waller in this afternoon’s Group 2 Champagne Classic. Photo: Daniel Costello
The start of the Champagne Classic was almost five minutes behind schedule after leading fancy Ours To Keep burst through the barriers and required a vetting, but the field jumped evenly when the race eventually got underway.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy elected to take a position towards the tail of the Champagne Classic field with Tangled as Ours To Keep, She’s Our Star and Snitzkraft traded early blows at the fore of the group.
Experiencing a carefree run in transit, the son of Snitzel received a good trail into the race turning for home, but appeared to have just too much to do as the leaders strode away with 300m to run.
Producing a strong turn of foot when he was asked for an extra effort, Tangled barrelled into the race on the outside of the field and found the line a comfortable half-length ahead of All Too Huiying; Italia Bella boxing on to finish third.
Tangled had only made three competitive appearances at the races prior to being crowed the Champagne Classic winner, but the colt has shown plenty of ability since making his debut in December and was extremely well placed this afternoon.
Having just held on to win the Volvo Commercial Vehicles Handicap (1350m) on April 19th, the colt out of Bramble Rose arguably proved that he is best suited to a 1200m with this afternoon’s pleasing win, but could now be set for the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) in a fortnight.
All Too Huiying has steadily built to the task this time in; running sixth in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), fifth in the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) and third in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) prior to this afternoon’s second.
Italia Bella was considered an outsider in the Champagne Classic field and performed extremely well to prove that she is far better than her $26 quote suggested.
