Ex-Pat Libran Ready for Breakthrough

The stayers get their chance for glory in the G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup with 11 runners going to post. Chris Waller holds a very strong hand here saddling three runners, each with leading claims. Both last year's winner and runner-up Grand Marshall (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Who Shot The Barman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) are back for more. The pair arrive on the back of excellent efforts in the G1 BMW Derby at Rosehill Mar 26. On that occasion both horses formed part of a Waller trifecta with Who Shot The Barman finishing second to Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) with Grand Marshal 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

However the horse the market prefers at this stage is the third Waller representative, Libran (Ire) (Lawman {Ire}). Formerly trained in England by Alan Swinbank, Libran won five times there including on his last UK start when he deadheated in a York handicap off a rating of 98. He has thrived since moving to the southern hemisphere, winning his last three starts under regular pilot Brenton Avdulla. Highclere Racing's 5-year-old warmed up for his biggest test yet with a narrow win in the G2 Schweppes Chairman's H. at Randwick last Saturday over three furlongs shorter and will be tackling the two-mile trip at Randwick for the first time. Highclere's Harry Herbert was present for his win last week and commented, “He has just thrived out here in Chris [Waller's] system. We knew he would change but you can just see it. He is a different horse physically and obviously stays strongly.” Chris Waller added, “It's a little bit different training stayers in Australia to other parts of the world, they will space their runs, but it seems we just need to get them so fit by racing and that was the reason I wanted to race him in the Chairman's. In a few of his runs he has raced a bit keen over shorter distances so the key is to switch him off and have him fit enough and the best horse in a week's time.”

Gai Waterhouse will saddle both Cafe Society (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and Dee I Cee (NZ) (Istidaad). Cafe Society, like Libran is another European import having began his career with David Simcock in Newmarket, however the 6-year-old has finished behind Libran on his last three starts, though the margin of defeat has diminished each time.