By Chris Roots
Telepathic did what was expected in winning Saturday's ATC Cup at Rosehill, and premier trainer Chris Waller is set to use an approach that worked with Rangirangdoo and He's Your Man in a fortnight at Randwick.
Telepathic, a Mossman mare, will drop back to the Randwick mile and the Villiers Stakes after winning at 2000 metres, where she had a touch of class on her rivals.
"She is probably a little bit vulnerable at the 2000 metres, but she has the turn of foot to win," Waller said. "I would think dropping back to the Randwick mile would really suit her.
"We have done it before with some success. She is probably more of a miler that can stretch out to this trip and I think she will love getting to the big track."
Too much class: James McDonald rides Telepathic to win the ATC Cup at Rosehill.Credit: bradleyphotos.com.au
James McDonald put Telepathic in the running line a couple of pairs back and in the straight he came to the centre and quickly had the race under control. She scored by one-and-three-quarter lengths from Lucky Lucky Lucky and Villanova.
"Bringing horses back from 2000 metres to a mile has worked for us in the past, but the time frame is tighter here," Waller said. "That will be like her hard gallop for it and she will have a quieter time in the next couple of weeks. She will have a less intense gallop just to keep her blood levels up."
The win was another for McDonald and Waller, who are building a great combination this season, striking at around 40 per cent. Waller has used the Godolphin-retained rider whenever he is available, but is likely to have to find another jockey for Telepathic in the Villiers.
"Godolphin do their rides a couple of weeks out and we are able to get him in the races where they don't have one," Waller said. "It is a pretty handy second string to have when you get him. He is riding in outstanding form."
McDonald enjoys linking with Waller and after his win on Telepathic was all smiles.
"He puts me on the Ferraris like her, it is always good," McDonald said. "She was very good and will be a very good chance in the Villiers."
Two-year-old Rafha's Choice will also back up in a fortnight, following the plan trainer Bede Murray set out for him to win the Inglis Nursery.
The I Am Invincible colt will arrive in the $250,000 event unbeaten in two starts.
"I want him to have a bit of experience going into that race," Murray said. "He was good at Kembla [when he won] and I said he would improve five lengths and I think he did that. He does a lot of things right and when you can do that as a two-year-old you are always a chance."
Blake Shinn took Rafha's Choice to the front and got away with a couple of soft sections down the side, but still had enough to hold off Peter and Paul Snowden's first starter Attention and Taj Mahal, which closed hard late but never looked like getting to the winner.