Black type target beckons for Chris Waller’s midweek Star
Chris Waller unearthed two exciting prospects in the Warwick Farm wet on Wednesday, with Burma Star and Beside The Sea both staking their claims for higher honours.
Burma Star, by Exceed And Excel, produced a dominant maiden success in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1100m). Having finished behind Blitzburg and King Of Pop in earlier starts, he lived up to his promise at his fifth outing.
The colt joined Waller’s team from James Cummings as part of Godolphin’s new approach to training. Waller said much of the credit remained with his former conditioner. “I’m just taking James’ wages,” Waller quipped. “What we’ve seen from Godolphin is they’ve got amazing systems, good staff, the horses are so well educated and they look fantastic.”
Backed as the $1.95 favourite, Burma Star was untroubled on the Heavy 10 surface, scoring by 3-3/4 lengths from Hush Hush ($41), with Defiance ($5) third. Waller said he would speak to jockey James McDonald before deciding the next step. “I will have a good chat to James…. hopefully we can pick up some black type for the mare and for the Godolphin operation,” he said.
One race later, Beside The Sea ($8.50) announced herself in style, powering home in the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series Handicap (1300m) under Jason Collett. The Zoustar filly, a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Farnan, bolted in by almost four lengths from Koibito ($3.20 fav) at just her second start after a runner-up debut at Randwick.
Waller said the filly would now be given time to strengthen ahead of an autumn campaign. “I wanted to get today out of the way. She is obviously very well bred and she won’t need to do a lot more this prep,” Waller said. “If you spelled her now, in the autumn she could be one of those P J Bell (Stakes), James Carr (Stakes) fillies.”
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