A tremendous training effort by Gai Waterhouse transformed War from a beaten midweek maidener into a Group 3 winner by taking out the $125,000 IBIS Styles Lansvale Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Warwick Farm today.
War scored an upset win in the Up And Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
War had shown plenty of promise in the Spring last year and was sent out the favourite when second to stablemate Whittington in the Listed $100,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 6.
The More Than Ready colt was having his first run for ten months when sixth over 1100m at Canterbury on August 7, but Waterhouse was certain she could get the best out of War this campaign.
“The other day at Canterbury everybody was knocking his run, it was an outstanding run at Canterbury. He has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since then and today he was able to dictate and stack the horses up a bit,” Waterhouse said.
“I liked the way he came away in the straight.”
Tommy Berry was able to get War out of the barriers running and went straight to the lead and even though he drifted out to the middle of the track, was able to score a comfortable upset win at the good odds of $15.
On the other hand, stablemate Pitcrew, the $3.70 favourite, was slow to leave the gates for Nash Rawiller and was never in contention after that.
Runner-up Drago ($6.50) from the Anthony Cummings stable, made up many lengths in the run to the line, keeping his hopes alive heading to the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2.
