Western Symbol has stamped himself as a horse to follow into the spring carnival after a strong win in the listed JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick today.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Gai Waterhouse-trained runner backed up his win in the Group 3 H.K.JC Stakes last start and will now push on towards the Brisbane Cup before a Caulfield Cup Campaign in the spring.
Waterhouse, who boldly predicted that Pierro would win the Golden Slipper after his debut run in October last year was at it again predicting not only a Brisbane Cup win but also a Caulfield Cup victory for the emerging stayer.
“He is a really exciting horse and he will win the Brisbane Cup and in four months time you will be interviewing me (after the Caulfield Cup),” Waterhouse predicted.
Western Symbol jumped from a wide barrier and jockey Tommy Berry had no choice but to settle three wide with cover.
Dance With Her and Zara Dancer took up the early lead with fellow Waterhouse runners Herculian Prince and Kinnersley also up on the pace.
Herculian Prince, who was also wide for a majority of the race, loomed up and took the lead rounding the turn and looked hard to catch until Western Symbol let down with an outstanding run to fight out the finish with his stablemate.
Western Symbol got the better of Herculian Prince over the final 100m to win by 0.2L with Larry's Never Late a further 1.8L back in third.
“They are very very good stayers and both ex kiwis,” Waterhouse said.
“There is old herculian Prince, he said I'm not going to be beaten and Nash pushed him forward and then Tommy came on Western Symbol and it was really marvellous to watch,” she added.
Tommy Berry who compares the horse to last years Brisbane Cup winner and stablemate Tullamore said the gelding worked super on Tuesday morning and will be able to make the step up to Group 1 company.
“He is tough he is a progressive stayer and Gai and I have said all along he reminds us of Tullamore and he is pretty much on the same path,” said Berry.
“Nash (Rawiller) kept fighting back but this horse is funny he was going to beat him by a couple of lengths and its like he enjoys teasing his rivals and he only likes to win by a head.”
“He was pretty keen on the way out to the gates and I was a little bit worried but as soon as he gets cover he switches of great so it was good to see Nash three wide because it gave me a bit of cover.”
