Chris Waller is looking forward to stepping Medatsu (NZ) (Staphanos) up in distance after the emerging four-year-old collected his second successive victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
The New Zealand-bred son of Staphanos began his career in the Cambridge stable of Clinton Isdale, for whom he placed in three of his four starts including the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) as a late-season juvenile.
Medatsu was a first-up winner for Waller at Kembla Grange last September, then stepped straight up into the big time and was unplaced in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
He returned from a long break with an impressive first-up win over 1500m at Rosehill on August 3, and Saturday brought more of the same – this time in the colours of the race sponsors, who promote and raise funds for organ donation around Australia.
Medatsu was ridden by Tommy Berry, who settled towards the back before moving up in the slipstream of Peace Officer (NZ) (Iffraaj) as that fellow Kiwi-bred swooped around the outside of the field at the home turn.
Peace Officer pounced and hit the lead with 300m remaining, but he was quickly joined and passed by Medatsu, who surged ahead to win by a length and three-quarters.
“He’s a lovely horse,” Berry said. “I’d just like him to leave the barriers a bit better. He’s going to have to do that once he gets into some better races.
“But he’s a progressive staying type and he gave me a good feel today. We had something to cart us into the race at the right time, which made the job easier.”
Raced by breeder Luigi Muollo in partnership with his brother Tony, Medatsu has now had eight starts for three wins, three placings and A$195,861.
“That was a very good ride by Tommy,” Waller said. “He was awkwardly drawn (gate 10) but didn’t panic. He brought him into the race at the right time, and the horse was very strong in the straight.
“He’s a very progressive horse. I was concerned that the 1600m might be a bit short for him today, but he showed good acceleration. He’ll step up in distance now.”
Bred by Luigi Muollo’s Explosive Breeding Ltd, Medatsu is by Novara Park stallion Staphanos and is out of the Mastercraftsman mare Christine Ann (NZ). He is a half-brother to Listed winner Rocababy (NZ) (El Roca).
