The impressive colt Sixties delivered a commanding performance, marking Chris Waller’s ninth triumph in the premier three-year-old event, though his prior eight victors were all fillies, beginning with the legendary Winx back in 2015.
Waller had previously taken the race with Foxplay (2017), Unforgotten (2018), Verry Elleegant (2019), Funstar (2020), Hungry Heart (2021), Zougotcha (2023) and Lazzura (2025).
As the $1.65 favourite, Sixties had to exert effort from the outset to shift across from a wide gate and position just outside the pacesetter, with top jockey James McDonald dictating proceedings before the colt prevailed by three-quarters of a length over the late-charging Federalist ($41), while Cellarmaster ($26) finished a half-length further back in third.
Just 35 minutes following Sixties’ success, Waller teamed up with McDonald once more to capture the Group 1 Coolmore Classic aboard Lazzura.
This success extends Waller’s extraordinary record in the Phar Lap Stakes, given that every one of the eight fillies he prepared for victory in the event later succeeded at Group 1 level.
Sixties now has the opportunity to become Waller’s ninth Phar Lap Stakes winner to conquer Group 1 company when heading to the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 4.
With just 49kg, Sixties qualifies for the Doncaster and remains exempt from re-handicapping due to his Phar Lap Stakes victory.
Waller announced that Rachel King has been secured to partner Sixties in the Doncaster.
Having posted a narrow third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas last time out, Sixties affirmed his top quality through a powerful showing in the Phar Lap Stakes.
“Things didn’t really work out in the Australian Guineas, like today, he’s had bad draws and it just makes it harder,” Waller said.
I think his best win was when we rode him quiet. But today, being a short priced favourite, we’ve got three weeks into the Doncaster I thought ‘oh well we’ll try you up again on the speed.’
“But ideally in the Doncaster we’ll ride him more conservatively. He’s got to go to a new level in the Doncaster but he’s very well weighted.”
McDonald, securing a record sixth Phar Lap Stakes success and his fifth alongside Waller, lavished praise on Sixties after the race.
“He would be a lot better off being a bit further back in the run,” Waller said.
“But obviously he’s a classy horse, he’s just come on leaps and bounds from each run he’s had and he’s a gorgeous colt to boot.
When ridden a bit quieter you’d really see a lethal performance. Obviously it was a bit tradesman-like today but there’s room to improve.”
McDonald concurred that Sixties should prove highly competitive in the Doncaster Mile carrying only 49kg.
“If he’s ridden three or four pairs back in a Doncaster on nice ground he would come out and run extremely well,” McDonald said.
“Ideally, I think his best trip is six furlongs to 1400m and he’s just getting that mile on ability at the moment.
“But he travelled really comfortably today, he’s just so honest, you can’t teach that. He’s got a heart of a lion.”
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