In another reminder of why he has been Sydney's champion trainer for more than a decade, Chris Waller has produced More Felons first-up off a Melbourne Cup campaign to win the Listed Parramatta Cup.
In just his second preparation for Waller, the import pinched runs along the inside and dived late to deny Almania ($17) by a short head with the winner's stablemate Bold Mac ($21) another short neck away third in a busy finish.
While he didn't come to Rosehill expecting More Felons ($21) to win the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m), Waller said the horse's performance was also no great surprise.
"The one thing I have learned is you just don't underestimate decent stayers," Waller said.
"He was well prepared and he was starting at the right distance.
"He had a short turnaround and has come back really well. It was good to see him finishing off strongly that last 100 metres.
"Any one of the first five or six could have won it, but we had the momentum and it was a good return."
Josh Parr gave More Felons time to find his feet early and with the inside having been a 'no-go' zone in earlier races, he was hoping to make ground near the fence and then shift out to better going.
But with horses spread across the track, that wasn't an option and in the end the winner and runner-up were the two horses closest to the rail.
"His class kicked in and he stuck his head out on the line and was too good," Parr said.
"He's coming off a Melbourne Cup preparation, he's screaming out for that trip and obviously has a lot of staying potential.
"He was an easy one to ride today."
