Premiership winning trainer Chris Waller is not convinced that the inside barrier is the best draw for Invinzabeel in the Listed $150,000 Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Invinzabeel, above, is he favoutite for the Winter Challenge at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Invinzabeel has been placed at his three runs this campaign and while Waller expects the six year old to be right in the finish again, said that the number one barrier might not be to his best advantage.
“Good draw. His three runs back this prep have all been outstanding including his last start in a similar type race, nothing much changes except for a better draw,” Waller said.
“He is a horse that likes a bit of room. That is my only negative from gate one but good jockey aboard in Blake Shinn.”
Blake Shinn has stuck with $4.40 favourite Invinzabeel after partnering him last start when second to Dreamforce in the Listed $150,000 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
Waller will also saddle up Liapari ($17), Mister Sea Wolf ($14) and Sir Bacchus ($20).
Liapari is a last start winner of the Listed $150,000 Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill on June 30 on a soft 7 track and Waller said that the five year old is better suited with the give out of the ground and the Good 4 rated track Rosehill track could go against his chances.
“Back on a better track is a bit of a concern,” Waller said.
“The other day there was good speed and hopefully there is the same speed again this week and the extra 150m won’t be a problem and you can not say never with a horse like him.”
Liapari has drawn awkwardly at barrier twelve with Jay Ford booked to ride while Mister Sea Wolf will jump from barrier four for Jason Collett.
English import Mister Sea Wolf will wear the blinkers for the first time and Waller expects a better effort than his last start sixth in the Civic Stakes.
“I think he will run better,” Waller said.
“He needs to, he is capable of better and his work has been good and he looks well.”
Sir Bacchus, at $20, is the longest priced Waller runner in the Winter Challenge and is hard to catch but is very capable on his day when everything falls into place during the race.
Sir Bacchus was a long priced winner four starts back at Rosehill over 1400m but has been out of the placings at his next three starts but Waller is not totally dismissing his chances.
The Sebring five year old has drawn around the middle of the field at barrier seven with apprentice Sam Weatherley to ride.
“Just needs a bit of luck. The extra 150m will suit his racing style of getting back. I can’t fault the way he is working and the way he looks,” Waller said.
The Rosehill meeting on Saturday is the last metropolitan meeting for the 2017 – 2018 racing season and Waller, with 185 metropolitan winners for the season to date, is set to claim his eighth consecutive Sydney Trainer’s Premiership.
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