Stablemate Wootton Verni shocks Barnavara in Neville Sellwood Stakes

The $1.70 market leader Barnavara couldn't sustain her challenge in the closing stages, settling for fourth as Wootton Verni, from the same stable, surged to an authoritative success.

According to Waller, Wootton Verni's local experience was crucial, and despite his frustration over Barnavara's effort, the boom mare had legitimate mitigating factors.

"Wootton Verni has been here a while now and he found some great form in the spring,'' Waller said, referring to the gelding's wins in the Coongy Handicap and Rosehill Gold Cup.

"Certainly, he's talented horse and with a bit of give in the ground and being rock-hard fit, he showed the others up."

In Europe, Barnavara preferred to be handy, yet her Australian debut was marred by a tardy beginning.

"The plan was to go forward, to be second, third or fourth but she dwelt at the start,'' Waller said.

"I think rather than fire her up, Australian horses just find their positions so quickly, whereas if you fire her up first Australian start I guess James (McDonald) would have thought you could of set her alight which is what we didn't want.

Then when they went slow, it was very hard from back there. They controlled it from the front and made it hard to finish off.''

At odds of $5.50, Wootton Verni under Tommy Berry's guidance bolted in by two-and-a-half lengths over the British challenger Caviar Heights ($4.20), who rallied for second, just ahead of $26 chance Portland who closed determinedly for third.

French Group 1 victress Barnavara made headway turning for home but faltered from 300m and struggled home in fourth.

Berry was thrilled to have Wootton Verni positioned ahead of Barnavara during the journey.

"I was always going to put my bloke into the race,'' Berry said.

"I thought the mare (Barnavara) was going to maybe even slide forward and I would be on the back of her.

It's always nice to be in front of quality horses in the run and they've got to chase you."

Barnavara's jockey James McDonald felt the race shape didn't favour her.

"She got back in a slowly run race,'' McDonald said. "She will improve."

Next targets for Wootton Verni and Barnavara are up in the air, per Waller.

"The plan was always to run Wootton Verni in the Tancred Stakes today but he just didn't quite fulfill our expectations last start,'' Waller said."So, we've come back a grade just to give him some confidence, and he's got that confidence back.

Is he up to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes? That will be the question we have to answer."

Waller will review Barnavara post-race before eyeing the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.

William Haggas must ponder options after Caviar Heights' promising second.

Assistant trainer Issy Paul confirmed Caviar Heights targets the Queen Elizabeth Stakes or Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 11.

"Caviar Heights will go to either of those races, it will be up to the boss (Haggas),'' Paul said."But we are very happy with Caviar Heights. He has run a really good race and will improve."

Tom Marquand praised Caviar Heights' debut in Sydney.

"He ran great,'' Marquand said. "We were ruined a little bit by the lack of tempo.

I wish he'd stepped a little better and I'd have been able to be a bit more positive."

Trainer Matthew Smith was pleased with Portland's third, hitting the line hard.

"He's run well and continues to improve,'' Smith said. "We will look at the JRA Plate for him."

Portland's jockey Kerrin McEvoy highlighted the merit in the run.

"I got onto the back of the favourite but it didn't really take me anywhere,'' McEvoy said.

"I had to switch out to get into the clear and he got going well over the last furlong (a200m)."

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