Good news for King Charles III emanating from the former colony on Australia Day with the Sea The Stars gelding Chalk Stream (GB) opening his Australian account in the Listed Schweppes Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm.
Ridden by Regan Bayliss for Chris Waller, Chalk Stream stayed on strongly to defeat the Annabel Neasham-trained Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel) by three lengths with the Waterhouse-Bott-trained Military Mission (IRE) (Mastercraftsman), a short-neck back in third.
It was start number eight for Chalk Stream (GB), advancing his record to five wins, three seconds, and a third from 18 starts with earnings of $280,688.
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth said the result would overjoy Chris Waller.
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t;It's a real thrill. Chris has had plenty of highlights in his career, but I'd say this would be right up there," Duckworth said.
"He is a horse you must ride a bit ugly - take off at the 800m as Regan did, and use his stamina.
"He turned it into a real staying race, and he was dominant.
"It's a massive thrill just to have him in training, let alone winning a nice race like this.
Chalk Stream (GB) was a 4-time winner for William Haggas and headed to Australia off the back of a well-beaten second in the Listed Noel Murless stakes at Ascot on October 21.
The son of Sea The Stars is a brother to the Group III Solario Stakes winner Reach For The Moon and a half-brother to Group 1 ATC Winx Stakes runner-up Invictus Prince (Dansili), whose sister Thames Pageant produced the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Twilight Gleaming National Defense.
Chalk Stream (GB) is the 104th black-type winner for Gilltown Stud's Sea The Stars.
