Wairere Falls (NZ) (Savabeel) capitalised on suitable conditions to win the TAB Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, advancing his career record to five wins and eight placings from 23 starts.
The five-year-old gelding jumped from gate seven and despite plans to sit midfield, jockey Tommy Berry found himself towards the rear of the pack.
Monsieur Sisu (Elvstroem) and Kiss The Bride (NZ) (Savabeel) set a face pace, with Berry biding his time before making a move with 500m to go.
The pair travelled wide and gradually made ground before Berry let the breaks off in the straight and Wairere Falls responded with a powerful finish that saw him score by one and a half lengths, with his Chris Waller-trained stablemate Bigboyroy (Dissident) finishing second.
“It was a tricky draw and we opted to be midfield but got much worse and ended up second last,” Waller said.
“The pace was on and it was classic Randwick mile style and he crept into it. I loved how he had his head down with 500m to go and when Tommy asked him to quicken he did.”
Berry said the race panned out as expected which worked well with his mount’s racing style.
“It was pretty painless,” Berry said. “We expected good speed in the race and that eventuated which this guy enjoys.
“He travelled sweetly for me, he has shown he can reel off some pretty good sectionals when his races are run to suit him.
“He was well-placed today and it was nice to have him back on my first weekend.”
Out of Iguazu’s Girl (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), Wairere Falls is a half-brother to four-time Group One winner and ill-fated stallion Sacred Falls. It is also the family of Group winners Packing Pins (NZ) (Pins), Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins) and Splurge (NZ) (Savabeel).
The well-bred gelding was purchased by syndicators Go Racing for $280,000 out of the draft of breeders Waikato Stud at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 yearling sale and has earning in excess of A$300,000 with plenty more wins in store.
Go Racing were also represented at Randwick by Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) who acquitted herself well when placed 6th in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at her fourth start in Australia.
“She was very brave,” Go Racing’s Albert Bosma said. “She had to work a bit too hard early which left her vulnerable and she was only beaten 1.78L so has it all in front of her.”
