The David Hayes-trained Berlioz (NZ) kept his kept his great record intact and landed his first black type win with victory in the $200,000 Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington today.
The talented Zabeel colt, ridden by Brad Rawiller, has won or placed seven times from seven starts, including his last start head second in the group one West Australian Derby a fortnight ago.
Jumping from barrier one today, Rawiller had the impressive colt travelling sixth on the fence, about six lengths behind race leader Vorenus (Allen).
With little movement throughout most of the event it wasn’t until the field started to hit the big Flemington bend that Rawiller began to make ground – well ground on everyone bar the leader.
Passing the 800m the margin between Vorenus and Berlioz was still six lengths as the leader tried to steal a break; however it was short lived as both Berlioz and race favourite Buffett (King) closed on the leader.
At the 500m both gallopers got to within two lengths of the leader, though more importantly, with Buffett racing on Berlioz’s outside, King was able to pocket Berlioz behind the tiring leader as the field straightened.
This forced Rawiller to let Buffett hit the lead but Berlioz clearly had plenty left in the tank and sprinted straight past Buffett after getting clear again before holding on in a tight finish from the Precedence (Mertens) who finished off strongly at the death.
The official margin was a short neck with one and three quarters to Buffett in third place. The overall time was 2.59.81 with the last 600m covered in 36.60.
“The travelling is helping him, he is making the grade and getting better the further we go with him,” said Bruno Rouge-Serrett, a David Hayes stable representative.
“He is handling it all, and maturing as he goes.
“He was a bit slow early, so David said we will train him as a stayer; see if he can get a trip.
“He will go back to Adelaide for the Derby now.”
Brad Rawiller was full of praise for his charge after returning to scale.
“We went to Perth and were beaten by a better horse on the day and to his credit he has come from a maiden this prep to WA for the Derby then back here, it is a great training performance from David and shows the constitution of a beautiful improving horse,” Rawiller said.
“The way it worked it out was good for us, drawn one, we got a good trail into it, we could see what King was doing from the 600m but I was happy with that because I didn’t go to early and get run down, so we came around him and we were too good.”
By Zabeel out of the Slavic mare Jervaux, Berlioz has two wins and five placings from seven starts for owner S Chiu.