Chris Waller was tipped to win the Apollo Stakes 2018 for a third straight year with Winx but even without the superstar mare running the stable came away with the victory thanks to a gutsy effort from Endless Drama.
Endless Drama improved on a third to star stablemate Winx last year to salute in the 2018 Apollo Stakes on Saturday for Chris Waller. Photo: Steve Hart.
Winx bypassed the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) due to the careless riding suspension of Hugh Bowman and instead put in a brilliant piece of work to win a simulated race ahead of the Chipping Norton Stakes on March 3.
That left Sydney-based master trainer Waller with two runners in the weight-for-age clash at Royal Randwick and both finished in the money.
Last year’s third placegetter Endless Drama ($4.20) led the Apollo Stakes trifecta with his fast-finishing stablemate Comin’ Through ($7.50) flashing home late for third.
Sandwiched between the Waller duo was the gutsy Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained dual Group 1 winning mare Global Glamour ($5).
Ridden by Rachel King, four-year-old Global Glamour was gutsy in her loss having done plenty of early work to take up front-running in the Apollo Stakes from the Bjorn Baker-trained colt Addictive Nature.
It was a strong pace set by the mare who led up the rise with Endless Drama giving chase and Comin’ Through with all the work to do from second last in the pack.
Global Glamour would not give up easily and Waller’s Lope De Vega entire Endless Drama, second-up off a third in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m), had to wear her down.
In the end, the six-year-old saluted narrowly despite getting a bit dour late, looking on track for a possible shot at the Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) back at Randwick during ‘The Championships’ on April 7, a race he finished dead last to behind It’s Somewhat in the wet last autumn.
Endless Drama currently sits as a $21 chance in futures Doncaster Mile 2018 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
To back Chris Waller’s Apollo Stakes winner Endless Drama next race at the right price visit our preferred online sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au today.
2018 Apollo Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Randwick Race 6 – 17/02/2018
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | – | 3 | 59kg | $4.20F |
| 2 | 8 | GLOBAL GLAMOUR | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Rachel King (a) | 0.2L | 4 | 57kg | $5 |
| 3 | 6 | COMIN’ THROUGH | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 0.4L | 8 | 59kg | $7.50 |
| 4 | 2 | PRIZED ICON | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 0.5L | 1 | 59kg | $7 |
| 5 | 9 | ADDICTIVE NATURE | Bjorn Baker | Adam Hyeronimus | 2L | 5 | 55.5kg | $4.60 |
| 6 | 4 | STAMPEDE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Joshua Parr | 6.6L | 9 | 59kg | $8 |
| 7 | 1 | CLASSIC UNIFORM | Gary Moore | Tim Clark | 7.3L | 2 | 59kg | $21 |
| 8 | 5 | INFERENCE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Brenton Avdulla | 8.8L | 7 | 59kg | $18 |
| – | 7 | LANCIATO (NZ) | Mark Newnham | – | – | 0 | – | – |
