Beiwacht primed for strong showing in Canterbury Stakes

Trainer Chris Waller intends to go back to the approach that yielded the best results for Beiwacht before, aiming to draw a Golden Rose-calibre effort from the colt.

After a duo of placeless finishes on the Flemington straight track, the Bivouac-sired three-year-old has made his way back to Sydney and will feature in a formidable Waller lineup for Saturday's $750,000 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.

Beiwacht's upcoming run represents his first in Sydney since the spectacular success in last year's Group 1 Golden Rose, after which he was fourth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) in November and ended up last on debut this preparation in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) last month.

"It just didn't work out down the straight," Waller said.

"He's got a very high cruising speed, but probably not high enough to be racing against 1000-metre horses.

"I think it's more a 12 to 1500-metre cruising speed, where he can sustain it.

"We've got to get him back into that type of racing and we thought the Canterbury Stakes was the best option.

"His win the Golden Rose in a similar type of race, his rating was through the roof – like, world-standard – so we've just got to try and simulate that and get back to that level."

In that Golden Rose, Beiwacht established a new Rosehill 1400m record, winning by a margin exceeding four lengths over yard companion Wodeton and star filly Tempted, victor of last week's Group 1 Surround Stakes.

Among the Canterbury Stakes nominations, Beiwacht is accompanied by fellow Waller charges Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah.

These Group 1-winning mares enter after respective first-up placings of first and third in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) on February 14, outings that thrilled Waller.

"They both ran well first-up, Joliestar was awesome and she's come through it well," he said.

"The 1300 will suit her and Lady Shenandoah was brilliant first-up as well.

"It was a slowly-run race and she got in a spot where she just needed a bit of time to get out of (but) she was strong to the line."

This Saturday at Randwick, the Canterbury Stakes pairs with the Randwick Guineas as the two Group 1 features, and Waller boasts the ante-post market leader Autumn Boy in the latter.

Don't miss the top online bookmakers offering great value in the racing betting markets for the Canterbury Stakes.