Chris Waller went into the Gr.2 Millie Fox Stakes (1400m) wary about the prospects of his two runners on a rain-affected track and he was pleasantly surprised to come away with the quinella.
Rosehill was posted as a heavy eight to start Saturday’s meeting and neither Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) nor Madam Rouge (Zourstar) had run a place in the conditions.
Even when it improved into the soft range before the Millie Fox Stakes, Waller was unsure if it would be dry enough for his pair.
But he need not have worried with Subpoenaed letting loose down the outside to hold off a brave bid by Madam Rogue and win by three-quarters of a length.
Waller was happy to admit he underestimated the drying capabilities of the Rosehill track.
“I was looking at it earlier this morning and really scratching my head,” Waller said.
“I thought it was going to be racing a lot worse and I think I got it wrong.”
The victory was Subpoenaed’s second at Group Two level after she took out the Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) over the same course and distance in the spring.
Having his first ride on the mare, Hugh Bowman said the backmarker appreciated the small field
“Her racing pattern in big fields makes it hard because she does need to settle, generally towards the rear, to run her best races,” Bowman said.
“A small field and an increasing pace throughout really set up for her.”
Subpoenaed was formerly trained in New Zealand by Cambridge conditioner Tony Pike, for whom she won her only start, over 1100m at Te Rapa.
She has now won four further races for Waller.
