Chris Waller has said serious consideration will be given to backing-up the stable’s 2024 Colin Stephen Quality winner from Saturday, First Light, into the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick next weekend.
Waller’s British-bred Dubai seven-year-old First Light ($4.80) was strong late chiming in at the top of the Rosehill straight to take out this year’s Group 3 $250,000 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) by an emphatic margin on Golden Rose Stakes Day.
It was a patient and well-timed ride by Tommy Berry who allowed the in-form stayer to switch off at the back before making his move at the right time to defeat Changingoftheguard by three lengths in a powerful finish.
Strathtay rounded out the trifecta in third.
“It was an exciting win. Tommy just let him do his own thing, flopped out of the barriers, minded his own business and joined in at the top of the straight. And he came away for a really good win,” Waller told the media post-win.
Third-up and fit, it was UK import First Light’s first Group assignment down under and has him on track for a potential seven-day back-up into the 2024 The Metroplitan field.
“We are (well represented in The Metropolitan field already this year) but it’s a Group 1 race so I’ll have a talk to Mrs Rupert and her team and see what they’ve got to say because I think, well they did, they bred this horse in England and sent him out, and I’m sure it would mean a lot to them, a Group win and a Group 1 placing or a win (in The Metropolitan next weekend) wouldn’t be the worst thing,” Waller said.
“And we’ve found in the past, backing horses up, it’s not always the worst thing in a staying race, they need to be fit.
“He can go home and won’t have to do any more galloping, he’s had his gallop today.”
Punters have to look all the way back to Railings (2005) to find the last horse to complete the Colin Stephen Quality – The Metropolitan race double.
Waller however has an outstanding record in the Epsom Handicap Day event having prepared five The Metropolitan Handicap winners most recently in 2022 with No Compromise.
All-in 2024 The Metroplitan betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has First Light into $13.
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2024 Colin Stephen Quality Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | FIRST LIGHT (GB) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 4 | 54kg | $4.80 | ||
| 2 | 1 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | Kris Lees | James McDonald | 3.1L | 2 | 58kg | $5 | |
| 3 | 2 | STRATHTAY (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 3.22L | 3 | 54kg | $3.20F | |
| 4 | 6 | WALTHAM (GB) | Matthew Smith | Zac Lloyd (a) | 5.13L | 7 | 54kg | $26 | |
| 5 | 7 | CAMPALDINO (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 6.43L | 6 | 54kg | $4.80 | |
| 6 | 8 | THINK ’N’ FLY | David Noonan | Craig Williams | 6.86L | 1 | 54kg | $11 | |
| 7 | 3 | CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tyler Schiller | 11.23L | 5 | 54kg | $9 | |
| 4 | MATUSALEM | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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