The Chris Waller juggernaut is set to continue on Saturday with the leading trainer nominating four horses for the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Royal Descent is one of four Chris Waller trained horses nominated for the George Main Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Group 1 winners Kermadec, Moriarty and Royal Descent as well as German import Flamingo Star are among the fourteen nominations for the weight for age mile feature this weekend.
Waller has started the new racing season off in the same fashion as he finished last year and keep the winners flowing at Rosehill last Saturday with four visits to the winner’s stall.
Waller collected three feature races with Silverball taking out the Group 3 $125,000 Thoroughbred Central Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), Catkins returning to the winner’s list in Group 3 $125,000 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m) and with Winx producing an electrifying win in the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m).
Restricted class runner Good Prospect was Waller’ s fourth Rosehill winner for the day in the $85,000 Mack Trucks BenchMark 85 Handicap (1200m).
Waller is expecting Royal Descent to return to best in the George Main Stakes after the classy mare finished third to Complacent in the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 5.
At her previous start, the 2013 Australian Oaks winner resumed for a brilliant first up win in the Group 2 $250,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick two weeks earlier.
“I think she went so good first-up that she was just a bit flat second-up in the Chelmsford,” Waller told The Daily Telegraph.
“I’d be expecting her to bounce back on Saturday and Kermadec should be ready to peak now third-up.”
Trainer John O’Shea has also nominated four Godolphin owned gallopers for the George Main Stakes, Hauraki, It’s Somewhat, Magic Hurricane and Sweynesse.
It’s Somewhat (7th), Sweynesse (9th) and Hauraki (10th) all finished behind the John Thompson trained Hooked in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 5.
Hooked was able to score an all the way first up win in the Tramway Stakes and will be among the main chances again in Saturday’s weight for age feature over the famous Randwick Mile.
Gai Waterhouse has nominated Doomben Cup winner Pornichet while Peter Moody will be represented by Kenjorwood.
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has entered last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist along with stablemate Lucia Valentina.
With only fourteen horses entered for the George Main Stakes, the Australian Turf Club has extended the nomination deadline until 11am on Tuesday, September 15, 2015.
Early market order for the George Main Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Kermadec, $4.80 Royal Descent, $6.50 Lucia Valentina, $7 Pornichet, $9 Kirramosa, $11 Hooked, $13 Magic Hurricane, Sweynesse, $15 Flamingo Star, $17 Hauraki, $19 It’s Somewhat, $26 Protectionist, $31 Kenjorwood, $101 Moriarty.
