The Chris Waller-trained winners continued at Doomben on Saturday with the star Sydney horseman completing the Group 3 winter feature double on the card thanks to the Group 3 $125,000 Sapphire Stakes (1630m) win by Sure Knee.
Sure Knee (pictured at Flemington) won the Group 3 Sapphire Stakes for Chris Waller in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.
Earlier in the day Waller and jockey Luke Dittman combined to take out the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) with gutsy Ocean Park mare Another Dollar before another mare from the stable surged late in the Sapphire Stakes results.
Dittman was in the saddle again, the hoop enjoying a brilliant day out at Doomben with another perfectly-timed ride aboard Snitzel four-year-old Sure Knee.
She was a dual acceptor for Saturday before being scratched from the Listed $150,000 Civic Stakes (1350m) won by Trumbull.
The Kim Waugh-trained Trumbull improved on a lead-up second to True Detective in a 1300m Benchmark 94 at Rosehill from June 13, the same race Sure Knee ran sixth in leading-up to her Group 3 win in Brisbane.
Dittman had Sure Knee settled third last in the run with Shuhood, who eventually trailed off to run last, setting the pace.
Relishing the step-up to a mile, Sure Knee ($9) hooked to the extreme outside once on the straight and launched late coming with a great finish to defeat Tony Gollan’s brave on-pace runner Krone ($4.80) and the beaten David Vandyke-trained favourite Baccarat Baby ($2.70).
“She looked like she was in a fair bit of bother in the run, we were a long way off them and she didn’t want to settle,” Waller’s assistant trainer Paul Shailer told the media post-race.
“Another brilliant ride from Luke (Dittman) he didn’t panic back there got her to settle down eventually and pulled her to the outside to have last crack at them.
“It’s always good winning in these colours the Ingham’s have always been massive supporters of the stable and having a Group 3 beside this mare’s name now should only increase her brood mare value when that day comes.”
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