Saturday Shorts - Sutton and Feroce claim Guineas, Waller and J-Mac dominate Randwick

Chris Waller celebrated a Group 1 double at Randwick, while it was a first Group 1 for young trainer Dom Sutton as Feroce claimed an upset win in the Australian Guineas at Flemington.

Sutton steals the limelight as Feroce swoops on Guineas  

Less than 12 months after having his first runner, Dom Sutton has become a Group 1 winning trainer as his star three-year-old Feroce swooped to win the Australian Guineas.

In a remarkable trajectory of success, it wasn’t until March 8 last year that English-born Sutton saddled up a runner, and March 21 before he saluted his first winner.

But Feroce, the son of Super Seth picked out by Sutton and agent Johnny McKeever at the NZB Ready To Run Sale  for $160,000, has carried him to the elite level.

Beaten narrowly in a Caulfield Guineas in the spring, Feroce’s return as an autumn three-year-old was slightly underwhelming, when third in the CS Hayes Stakes.

But on Saturday, the best version of Feroce fronted up, as he powered past Kiwi Group 1 winner Savaglee to become the first gelding to win the race since Alligator Blood in 2000, and the first elite winner for his Waikato Stud-based sire. It was just the third Group 1 win for jockey Billy Egan.

Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru finished third, while the favourite Sepals finished fourth.   

It was a marquee moment for Sutton, who arrived in Australia in 2015 before setting out on his own last year.

“I came here just to experience the industry. I was meant to be here for three months, and here we are ten years later,” Sutton said.

“I never had the initial plan to train. I just wanted to come to experience it, loved it. Obviously found a girl who made me stay, and yeah, here we are.”

“It's been a crazy journey, and I just couldn't do it without people around me, so I've got a lot of people to thank.”

Via Sistina gives Waller an 11th Verry Elleegant win  

Champion mare Via Sistina claimed her sixth Australian Group 1 victory at just her ninth Australian start as she fought her way to victory leading home a Chris Waller trifecta in the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

Waller was aiming for his 11th victory in the race formerly known as the Chipping Norton Stakes and it was clear that would be a reality as three of his runners descended on the lead inside the final 200 metres.

It was far from the authoritative victory of her remarkable Cox Plate romp last spring, but James McDonald was able to get Via Sistina through the field and then see off the late challenge of Fangirl to win. Lindemann was a short margin away in third.

It was Group 1 win number 111 for James McDonald.     

“I thought they are supposed to be easier than that. No, she was great. Second-up last preparation, that was her worst run so we had that in the back of our mind and she’s come away and obviously got through that well,” McDonald said.

“She’s got through her second-up run and now it’s all upside from here.”

Shenandoah’s Surround after battle of Ladies

Lady Shenandoah added the Group 1 Surround Stakes to her Flight Stakes victory in the autumn, but had to fight right to the line to defeat last year’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot.

Chris Waller’s star filly was having just her sixth start but was prohibitive odds of $1.30. Sitting off the pace, James McDonald presented her perfectly into the race, but Lady Of Camelot rallied and the margin was only 0.3l on the line. Lazzura finished third.

“You’ve got to remember she is only a young filly and I know we’ve got all these big hypes on them but it is still early days. She will fill out even more as a four-year-old. What she is doing is a really good effort,” McDonald said.

“Dundeel was $1.06 - I’ve had shorter before. It comes with big expectation but we’re lucky to be riding these horses and Chris preps them up and you have full confidence when they’re there to produce. It is a huge team effort.”

Waller said after the race the path forward for Lady Shenandoah was not certain, but he said it was unlikely she would contest the Doncaster Handicap.

Lady Shenandoah, who is owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds and was bred by Arrowfield, is one of 21 Group 1 winners for Snitzel.

Collett at the double as Millennium form stands up on road to Slipper

Rivellino put his credentials for the Golden Slipper forward with a tough win in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick.

The last start Inglis Millennium winner took his unbeaten streak to three with a narrow victory over Skyhook and Quietly Arrogant. The bubble burst on the Allan Kehoe-trained Shaggy, who sat outsider the leader and could only finish fifth.

The Kris Lees-trained Rivellino became the first Group winner for the second Australian crop of champion first-season stallion Too Darn Hot, who holds a commanding lead in the second-season sires race.

The filly Rivellino edged out in the Millennium, Within The Law, booked her place in the Slipper with a fast-finishing success in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

Within The Law’s prize money to this point of her career, nearly $1 million, had all come in Inglis sales races, which didn’t count towards Slipper qualification.

However, the Bjorn Baker-trained filly now has her spot in the rich two-year-old feature as Jason Collett completed a feature two-year-old double.

The daughter of Lucky Vega nabbed Bellazine in the shadows of the post, while Snitzel Miss finished third.

Both Rivellino and Within The Law are into $11 for the Golden Slipper on March 22.