Untapped, Unbeaten, Unbelievable: Waratah's Star
- Sunday, 18 October 2009 00:30
The three-year-old gelding by Mungrup Stud based sire Oratorio bounbed out of the barriers well and sat on the speed for much of the race before striding clear of his rivals in the straight for the easiest of wins.
In a breathtaking performance, Waratah's Secret stopped the click in a blistering 1 minute 8.13 seconds for the 1200 metres - smashing the race record by 2.19 seconds!
Already being touted as the new "freak" of WA racing, Waratah's Secret was sent out as the long odds on favourite and he didn't let his connections or supporters down.
And judging by the ease of the win and the domination of his rivals it appears the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale graduate has bigger and better wins in store.
Waratah's Secret ($1.40 fav) raced clear in the straight to beat Romida ($31) by three and three quarter lengths.
Dawinner ($51) was a further length back in third place.
Trainer David Harrison, who purchased the young star for $43,000 at last year's Belmont based sale, is already looking forward to Waratah's Secret's next run.
"The track is very fast today, but they still have to run (the time) I suppose," Harrison said.
"It was a fantastic win."
"He won in a hand canter really. He over raced a little bit early. He's probably still got a fair bit to learn."
Harrison thinks the gelding will be even more effective one he is able to sit behind a leader.
"I'll probably try and settle him in the Fairetha (Stakes) in a couple of weeks."
"Step his work up a little bit," he added. "I think he will be a better horse chasing one."
"If he comes through the Fairetha in flying colours we'd head to the Guineas."
"If he comes through that in flying colours we might go to the Kingstown Town (Stakes)."
"And if he doesn't we'll just go back in distance."
If you missed seeing Waratah's Secret in the Belgravia or at his previous two runs - which he won by six and six and three quarter lengths respectively - do yourself a favour and not miss his next.
Oratorio, an Australian bred son of Stravinsky and the sire of Waratah's Secret, was a former top class juvenile who won feature races in numerous stakes including the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic.
Prepared by Hall of Fame horseman Lee Freedman he trained on at three to win the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes at Moonee Valley.
His freshman crop, two last season and of which Waratah's Secret is a member, has done a remarkable job already and he looks destined for a bright future at stud.
An outstanding selecting of yearlings by the sire are set to go under the hammer at January's 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Waratah's Secret wasn't the only Magic Millions graduate to impress at Ascot's opening meeting of the 2009/10 racing season.
Geyser Peak, Snug Buggles, General Albert, Moonlight Drive and Bodgie Business were all impressive winners - but none could match Waratah's Secret for grabbing the headlines.
In fact of the eight races run at Ascot today - six were won by Magic Millions puchases. The other two were WA homebreds.
Media Release - Magic Millions
