Veteran performer Waterford secures victories in most campaigns, and trainer Chris Waller has long earmarked the Hawkesbury Gold Cup as a key objective.
The seven-year-old, with his previous success in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill back in September, has not competed since a disappointing return in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m) on March 28.
Assistant to Waller, Charlie Duckworth, explained that the decision to give Waterford a four-week break was intentional, allowing the team to sidestep the primary Sydney autumn carnival events in favour of this Saturday’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).
“Literally, it was just to wait for Hawkesbury,” Duckworth said.
“He’s had four weeks between runs. He’s had a barrier trial, and he trialled at Hawkesbury.
“He’s more than capable of winning a race like that on his day.”
Waterford joins a powerful lineup for Waller in the Cup, including the consistent Captain Furai seeking a third straight victory, last year’s second-place finisher Osipenko, plus Imperialist and Yet He Moves.
Waller dominates the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) too, saddling five of the eight contenders, led by The Autumn Sun offspring The Roaring Sun, who was narrowly defeated by future stakes performer Seraphox on his debut at Warwick Farm this month.
Duckworth is confident the colt possesses stakes-level ability and views Saturday’s event as a potential gateway to the Brisbane winter carnival.
“Our best two-year-old going there is The Roaring Sun. He was narrowly beaten at Warwick Farm, caught wide the trip,” Duckworth said.
“He is a genuine Group horse, and this is a race Chris has used in the past as a stepping stone (to Queensland).”
Past winners of the Clarendon Stakes include notable types like Zardozi, who triumphed in 2023 en route to the VRC Oaks (2500m) next spring.
Waller has effectively utilised the race as an early test for Brisbane with various late-blooming juveniles, such as Zoustar, winner in 2013 prior to taking the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Doomben and placing second in the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) that year.
Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing odds ahead of the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
