Stable yet to make a call on exciting colt ahead of Ken Russell Memorial Classic
Chris Waller will decide on Wednesday evening whether promising colt Imperial Force heads to the Sunshine Coast for a key lead-up run towards next month’s Group One JJ Atkins in Brisbane.
The last-start Canterbury winner is a $5 equal favourite for the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at Caloundra and a $3 outright favourite for the Gosford IT 2YO Handicap (1200m), both on Saturday.
With Gosford and Caloundra rated in the heavy 10 category and Imperial Force drawing wide at both venues, Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth conceded it wasn’t an easy call.
“Both are heavy tens and he has drawn eleven (at Gosford) and nineteen (at Caloundra). We really haven’t done very well,” Duckworth said.
“The trouble is, if you’re trying to get to a J J Atkins, every run from now is important.
“Sometimes you end up having to have your hand forced and you have to roll the dice and run from a wide draw, or on a track you didn’t want to necessarily run on.
“But I don’t think there are many get out of jail tickets.”
Waller’s weekend team for Queensland is due to leave Sydney at 8pm (AEST) on Wednesday night and connections will need to decide by then whether Imperial Force gets onto the float.
Regardless of whether he heads to Gosford or the Sunshine Coast, Duckworth says the colt is in great order and on target for his primary goal of next month’s Group One J J Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
“We’re really happy with him. He galloped (on Wednesday) morning at Rosehill and he is just an absolute pro,” Duckworth said.
“He will be better once he gets to 1400(metres), but he’s ready to go on with it.
“We think he’s a topliner but it’s just about plotting the right path.”
The stable is in a similar quandary with stablemate President, who is first emergency for the Ken Russell Memorial Classic in which he has drawn gate 16, while he is in the field at Gosford but has another awkward draw in barrier 10.
President will be first-up but showed encouraging signs at his initial preparation when he placed at the Kensington track on debut and finished fifth to Storm Boy in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) in March.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...