Warnie's masterclass shines in delayed Chautauqua Stakes

The transformation of Warnie into a more composed galloper, a change attributed to his gelding, is now clearly evident in his racetrack performances for Ciaron Maher.

During the Group 3 Chautauqua Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Wednesday, Warnie maintained a relaxed rhythm before launching an impressive finishing surge.

This Group 3 race was postponed from the original Saturday fixture, the Moir Stakes program, at Sandown after heavy rain led to the cancellation of the last two events.

The postponement by four days proved inconsequential for Warnie ($3.70), who, under jockey Mark Zahra, benefitted from a solid pace to overhaul his stablemate Tennessee Bound ($4.20), winning by 1-¼ lengths. Amenable ($7.50) finished a further neck behind in third.

Ciaron Maher Racing's National Assistant Trainer, Jack Turnbull, highlighted the dominance of Warnie's victory and announced the gelding's next assignment would be the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19.

"There was good speed and Tennessee Bound had a bit of company upfront, and she was gallant in defeat, but to see Warnie sit back and have a few lengths to make up and quicken the way he did and eased down late, it was impressive," Turnbull said.

"The 1400 (metres) to a mile is his go and he's a horse that is held in high regard. He took a little while to get there when he was a colt, but now a gelding, it's terribly exciting for all the connections."

Turnbull explained that the gelding process had significantly aided Warnie in achieving a more settled state, reducing his formerly spirited disposition.

"He was always a horse that was full in the bridle and very strong, both at home and on race day," Turnbull said.

"He's softened, gone from (needing) a Norton bit back to a crossover noseband and he's just grown up essentially.

"When he reserves himself in the first half, he has that turn of foot in the second half."

Turnbull noted that the stable was aware of the reduced timeframe between the Chautauqua Stakes and the Sir Rupert Clarke, with only 10 days separating the races instead of the initially planned 14.

This proximity meant the stable had advised Zahra to ride with caution regarding the quick turnaround.

"It wasn't ideal that we got pushed back from Saturday, but everybody was in the same boat," Turnbull said.

Jockey Mark Zahra expressed his pleasure with the race's tempo, despite the smaller field.

"They were flying along and I've ridden him before and he's a horse that races best ridden dead cold," Zahra said.

"If you do that, he absolutely flies home and I just rode him like that today and once I got him out to the good ground, he looked the winner a long way out."

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