Veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman showed off his true staying ability with a last stride win in the 2018 Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) on day two of The Championships at Randwick today.
Who Shot Thebarman, above, was the winner of the 2018 Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Who Shot Thebarman was contesting the Sydney Cup for the fifth time and finally broke through for a memorable win courtesy of a well-judged ride from big race jockey Blake Shinn.
Shinn settled Who Shot Thebarman near the tail of the field for the majority of the two mile trip and brought him to the outside at the top of the rise in the straight.
Who Shot Thebarman ($18) had to chase hard when the roughie Zacada ($91) skipped away with what looked like a winning break but the nine year old chased more like a four year old and got the judge’s decision by a nose.
Third placegetter Sir Charles Road ($7) had a nice run midfield and took the short cuts on the corner and ran to the line strongly to figure in the minor prizemoney.
The win of Who Shot Thebarman wrapped up a massive day for trainer Chris Waller and made it three Group 1s on the trot after saddling up Unforgotten to win the $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) and the mighty Winx to win her second Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Waller was full of praise for Who Shot Thebarman who had also contested three Melbourne Cups with is best effort being a third in 2014.
“He has been such a frustrating horse because he has run so many great seconds, third in Melbourne Cups and Sydney Cups and has given us one hell of a ride,” Waller said.
“Three Melbourne Cups. This year he had to be scratched, he had a temperature and I said to the owners that day, don’t panic. He won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, you still a horse left for a Sydney Cup and we didn’t panic.”
“It doesn’t get any better.”
The well supported $3.70 favourite Almandin was always well back in the field and never threatened in the straight to finish eighth.
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