Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller rose to new heights today when he claimed all four Group 1 races that were on offer today when Come Play With Me won the Group 1 $750,000 Heineken 3 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.
Come Play With Me, above, was Chris Waller’s fourth Group 1 win of the day with his win in the Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Earlier in the day Waller saddled up Funstar to win the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m) and Kolding to win the Group 1 $1m Epsom (1600m) at Randwick as well as putting the final polish on Kings Will Dream and Finche who ran the quinella in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Winning jockey Brenton Avdulla settled Come Play With Me ($8.50) just behind the leading division and waited until heads were turned for home before making his move.
Come Play With Me found clear space coming down the rise and Avdulla drove the former Western Australian trained galloper to the line to grab a neck win.
Runner up Gallic Chieftain ($18) also hit the line hard just ahead of Sir Charles Road ($31).
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Stampede ($5.50 equal favourite) set the pace out in front and kicked away half way down the straight but couldn’t sustain the effort and wound up in fourth position.
Come Play With Me’s Waller trained stablemate Brimham Rocks was sent out as the equal favourite but was always well back in the field and failed to impress in the run home to finish ninth.
“It’s been a magnificent day. We have a massive team behind us and they put everything into these horses. Whether it be a maiden at Moe or Kembla or wherever it may be. Having multiple runners in these big races. No stone is left unturned. I’ll emotional from time to time for my team,” Waller said.
“It is a pretty special day and it has been shared around. Yes we have all the big owners around the world that we train for. It is just fantastic for so many people to share in this. I appreciate all their support. Likewise for Adam Durrant for sending him over here. That is quite a privilege to get a horse of his calibre.”
Come Play with Me started his career under the care of Perth trainer Adam Durrant and was the winner of twelve races before being sent across to Waller to prepare for the 2019 Spring Carnival.
The five year old had two runs for Waller prior to today’s Metropolitan for a second in the Group 3 $160,000 Premier’s Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on August 31 followed by a sixth in the Group 3 $160,000 The Agency Real Estate Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 21.
