Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Waller dominates as Skyglider headlines a juvenile trifecta
Champion trainer Chris Waller made his mark at Canterbury on Wednesday, saddling up three promising 2-year-old colts in the 2-year-old & 3-year-old Maiden Handicap, and the trio didn’t disappoint, finishing first, second, and third in an authoritative stable trifecta.
The very promising Skyglider (Flying Artie) led home stablemates Sixties (Flying Artie) and Estremo (Extreme Choice) in a result that also delivered the quinella for Flying Artie.
The well-backed favourite Skyglider, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, was positive from the gates and pushed forward to find the rail after doing a touch of early work. Zac Lloyd on Sixties opted to sit up outside the leader, while Maccbi (Sooboog) enjoyed a perfect trail in behind.
On straightening, Skyglider kicked strongly and extended with authority to hold off a tenacious Sixties, who is a full-brother to dual Group 1 winner Artorius. Despite doing the chasing, Sixties stuck to his task well, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind the winner. Estremo caught the eye on debut, running home strongly from near last to grab third, signalling that all three Waller runners have strong futures ahead.
“They are all going to make nice 3-year-olds, so there is a lot to look forward to,” said Chris Waller.
“They are all going to make nice 3-year-olds, so there is a lot to look forward to.” - Chris Waller
“Obviously, we'd like him (Skyglider) to settle in the run and he did settle well today, but when the opportunity arises we’d take a sit with him, but it's important that they win and have good experiences.
“From his draw and with his gate speed, it looked logical that he'd be there on the pace, Kerrin did a great job rating him and he showed a good turn of foot.”
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Skyglider is the first foal out of Ex Lady (Exosphere), a 1000-metre winner in her own right. Since producing Skyglider, she has delivered a weanling filly by Ole Kirk and is due to foal to Hawaii Five Oh this coming September.
Ex Lady is a half-sister to Affable (Husson {Arg}), a Listed-winning 2-year-old who has also produced the Listed winner Agreeable (Sebring). Further down the page, the pedigree features dual Group 1 winner Turffontein, successful in both the G1 William Reid Stakes and G1 Rupert Clarke Stakes, who also enjoyed success at stud.
Skyglider was purchased by the Ezybonds No.1 Syndicate for $100,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Baramul Stud draft, and he looks to be a sharp investment with a bright future.
Kerber defies them all
It was the Chris Waller-trained Kerber (I Am Invincible) who made all the running at Canterbury on Wednesday, scoring a determined first-up win under jockey Jason Collett.
The beautifully bred daughter of I Am Invincible, an imposing full sister to the exceptional In Secret (I Am Invincible), was having just her second career start, having debuted back in February in the Listed Lonhro Plate where she finished ninth behind Bellazaine (Zousain). Since then, Kerber has had a change in stables and had sharpened up with a pair of Rosehill trials in preparation for her return.
Collett was positive from the gates, sending the filly straight to the lead. From The Peak (Alabama Express), ridden by Dylan Gibbons, pressed forward to race outside the leader, while Miss Jones (Deep Field) was caught wide and working throughout.
The race pattern barely changed in the run home, but Kerber proved game and gritty. First, she held off the persistent challenge of From The Peak, who looked a danger before peaking late inside the final 50 metres. Then came a late surge from Miss Jones, who rallied hard down the outside, but her lunge just missed as Kerber clung on to win narrowly, bringing up I Am Invincible’s 200th winner for the season.
Jockey Jason Collett was full of praise for her effort:
“She is very quick, and it's great that she can utilise that speed because she had control of that race along the way out,” he said.
“She is very quick, and it's great that she can utilise that speed because she had control of that race along the way out.” - Jason Collett
“There's definitely more to come as she’s still got a bit of growing up to do upstairs, as she didn't really handle things going to the start, and she shied badly and got herself quite wound up.
“She saw some cyclists going down the back track when I was turning around to go to the gates and it’s just little things like that, her mind's not completely on it yet.”
Jason Collett | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Kerber is the fifth foal from the high-class mare Eloping (Choisir), a brilliant juvenile who won seven races up to 1200 metres. Her wins included the G3 Royal Randwick Stakes, G3 Champagne Stakes, Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes, Listed Blue Diamond Preview (f), and the Listed Silk Stocking Handicap.
Since retiring to stud, Eloping has flourished as a broodmare, most notably producing In Secret, a $900,000 yearling purchase by Godolphin at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Trained by James Cummings, In Secret became a dual Group 1 winner and one of Australia’s standout fillies of her generation.
Eloping | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
There’s further black-type depth in the family, with relatives such as stakes-placed Jesse’s Girl (Choisir), G3 Carbine Club Stakes winner All Courage, and juvenile dual stakes winner Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner), who claimed the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) and the Listed Debutant Stakes.
Since foaling Kerber, Eloping has produced a yearling filly named Secrets Within (I Am Invincible), a weanling colt also by I Am Invincible, and missed to the Champion stallion last spring.
Kerber was purchased by Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $1,150,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and on this performance, she may soon be adding further black-type success to an already illustrious family page.
A late-surging burst keeps Amreekiyah’s winning streak intact
The unbeaten run of Amreekiyah (Justify {USA}) continued at Canterbury on Wednesday, as the Peter Snowden-trained filly overcame a challenging set-up to claim the Benchmark 64 Handicap in impressive fashion.
Resuming after a successful two-start campaign that yielded wins at Kembla Grange and Newcastle, Amreekiyah returned with a huge performance to gun down the long-time leader O’Invincible (I Am Invincible) late in the piece.
In the hands of Kerrin McEvoy and carrying a hefty 61kg, the filly defied the pattern of the day, which heavily favoured on-pace runners. Settling back in the field, she produced a powerful finish wide on the track to score by just over half a length.
Video: Watch Amreekiyah race at Canterbury, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The runner-up, O’Invincible, gave a brave kick in front and lost no admirers, while the third placegetter Ringarosa (Sebring) also caught the eye finishing off well from the rear, although a long margin behind the quinella.
“I can't wait to get her up in trip to at least 1500m next time and probably a mile after that,” said Peter Snowden.
“There is plenty more to come with her as she is still very raw and she has so much potential.
“There is plenty more to come with her as she is still very raw and she has so much potential.” - Peter Snowden
“It’s good to see her do something special today as she has been showing us for a while at home that she is a bit above average.
“To do what she did with 61.5kg on her back and give them five lengths start on a day when it’s been hard to make up ground isn’t easy, but she made it look easy.”
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Amreekiyah is the third live-foal from Marianne (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), a high-class filly in her own right. A winner of the Listed Alexandra Stakes, Marianne was placed in eight other stakes races including at Group 2 company. She was purchased by Tom Magnier for $1.1 million at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
At stud, Marianne has already proven her worth. From her two foals to race she is the dam of Yaletown (Vancouver), winner of the G2 Tulloch Stakes, and now Amreekiyah, who has made an unblemished start to her career, remaining unbeaten from three outings.
Her progeny continue to draw interest in the sale ring. At the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, her Justify (USA) filly sold for $800,000 to Ryan and Alexiou Racing. More recently, her Home Affairs filly was purchased by Snowden Racing Pty Ltd for $300,000 at this year's edition of the sale. She also has a weanling filly by Justify.
Amreekiyah was purchased by Emirates Park, Snowden Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) for $420,000 from the Coolmore draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
