Providence ready to go in the 2025 Up And Coming Stakes
Champion trainer Chris Waller has unearthed another potential spring contender in Providence, a colt who will chase his maiden win in Saturday’s Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill. The son of Wootton Bassett has shown glimpses of class and may follow in the footsteps of former Waller stars who thrived after late-season juvenile campaigns.
Providence placed on debut at Randwick before running fourth in both the Listed Phoenix (1500m) and the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane, performances that suggested he was capable of competing against the better colts of his generation.
“He did really well in the J J Atkins. He drew wide and got back on a day that it was impossible to make up ground,” Waller said. “He overcame a few biases that day and showed us he has got the makings of a nice horse.”
Saturday’s outing will be his first step towards higher goals, with the Golden Rose (1400m) a possible spring target. He will line up against six rivals, including barn mates Sixties, who stormed home by seven lengths in a Kensington maiden, and Fermoy, who closed strongly for fourth at Rosehill in testing conditions.
“He is by Wootton Bassett and he’s a lovely, scopey horse,” Waller said. “He is definitely a Spring Champion Stakes horse but I’m hoping he might find more speed and get to a Golden Rose. Who knows?”
Waller believes Fermoy has turned the corner as a three-year-old after showing signs of maturity, while Central Coast, another stable entry, has been withdrawn after a Thursday trial.
Punters looking to support Providence or his stablemates this weekend can compare odds for the Up And Coming Stakes through leading Australian betting sites.
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