Rosehill trainer and ex-pat New Zealander Chris Waller was wearing his All Black tie at Randwick on Saturday, and his entrant in the $55,000, Sydney City Lexus IS250 Handicap (1800m) Auckland Blues (NZ) , bearing a name taken from the Super 14 rugby team hailing from Auckland, obviously figured a top effort was required.
Auckland Blues, a seven-year-old, was having just his first start for Waller after having been sent across the Tasman from owner Gerard Peterson’s brother Brad’s stables at Cambridge.
Jockey Darren Beadman moved Auckland Blues forward with 300m to run and they looked clear with 160m to run. But Danny Nikolic on the John O’Shea Noreil (Spectrum) was not letting them off without a very determined fight.
Auckland Blues had passed Noreil, but Nikolic working hard brought Noreil back to reach the lead again. Beadman put the stick away and asked Auckland Blues for one more push. They got the photo-finish by a short head as the horse obliged his trainer and his rugby expectations later in the day with the All Blacks due to meet the Wallabies in Christchurch.
It was Beadman’s third winner of the day after wins on Capanna and Canadian Ruler earlier in the programme, taking his tally to 142, just one short of his former record total of 143.
Impatient Star (Arena) was third, the margin 1 1/4L, the time 1.54.22, the final 600m in 36.38.
“He certainly makes things easier for a trainer,” said Waller of Beadman.
“He’s been headed and he has lifted him over the line,” he said.
Waller paid tribute to the good condition that Auckland Blues carried from Brad Peterson when he arrived at his stables. He said that he has no real plans but that there were plenty of races over the winter for Auckland Blues, with wetter tracks preferable.
He suggested that the change of environment for the rising eight-year-old had been helpful, but punters let Auckland Blues under their guard, particularly allowing for Beadman’s engagement for the horse, and he paid $19.00.
It was the fifth win by Auckland Blues, by Blues Traveller out of the Vice Regal mare Villajaro, from 35 starts. With seven places he has earned $111,148.