Stormy Marco produced a striking first appearance and headed a Chris Waller-trained trifecta while heavily backed favourite Tenenbaum disappointed in the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
The two-year-old event serves as the customary kickoff for the Hawkesbury standalone meeting and is frequently utilised by Waller to ready his up-and-coming juveniles ahead of the Brisbane winter carnival.
Such a route appears probable for Stormy Marco along with stable companion Nations League following their tight battle at the finish.
Stormy Marco ($21) proved the rank outsider among Waller’s trio of runners yet powered home powerfully with Sam Clipperton aboard to prevail by a half-length over Nations League ($7.50) and a further two lengths back to Fondness ($8.50).
Tenenbaum started as the $1.22 market elect but despite a prominent run throughout, he weakened badly to place only fourth, edging out Grafology on the line.
Waller did not attend Hawkesbury however his assistant Charlie Duckworth indicated that Stormy Marco and Nations League could target the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm in the coming month.
“Stormy Marco was in the trials on Monday but when this race fell away and became a field of five, we felt he should be running,” Duckworth said.
“He’s by Wootton Bassett, a sire who is flying at the moment, and we felt the colt trialled well enough and had the education to go to the races.
“The 1400m was a better option for him than going to Gosford next week (1200m).
“As it turned out, he did everything right today and was strong late.
Clipperton, guiding a measured pursuit from behind, was equally taken by Stormy Marco’s successful introduction.
“He’s a quiet-natured horse and will only improve off that,” Clipperton said. “He has kicked off his career in good style today.”
Duckworth noted solid performances from runners-up Nations League and Fondness as well.
“Nations League had to dig deep and was strong to the line but he might have been beaten by a good one,” he said.
“Fondness did well jumping from 1100m to 1400m which is never easy.”
Waller chose to withdraw promising colt The Roaring Sun from the Clarendon on the day of the race but Duckworth mentioned the young horse may head to the Gosford standalone or the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast this coming Saturday.
One more exciting prospect from the stable, the undefeated St Gotthard, worked at Canterbury last Friday and could also appear at Gosford or the Gold Coast shortly.
According to the most recent TAB Fixed Odds for the Group 1 $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 13, The Roaring Sun sits as second pick at $7, St Gotthard at $11 and Nations League at $26 trailing unbeaten Melbourne colt Blind Raise on $4.50.
Explore the Australian betting sites for the top racing odds ahead of the JJ Atkins.