Capitalising on his outstanding second up form, Chris Waller’s Group 1-winning Lonhro gelding Lindermann held on to win the Group 2 ATC Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Bred and raced by the Debbie Kepitis and her family, Lindermann’s first black type victory came in the Group 1 ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m) off the back of his second the start prior in the Group 1 ATC Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Known for his front-running style, the gelding finished down the track first up in the Gr1 Winx Stakes on a heavy 9 rated track, and having shown a dislike for the wet, and with little first up form, connections surely went into his second up run with some level of confidence despite the Joe Pride trained Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) starting a very short priced favourite.
Straight to the lead under regular jockey Nash Rawiller, Lindermann crossed from barier nine of 12 to take up the running ahead of Bjorn Baker’s Robusto (Choisir) with Yulong’s Full Count Felicia (USA) (War Front) settling in third on the rail.
Second favourite Sir Delius (Frankel) was doing himself no favours with the Waterhouse/Bott trained 5yo stallion forced to race wide after jumping from barrier 10.
Running along at a steady tempo, Rawiller started to up the ante just before the turn as race favourite Ceolwulf pulled out from his mid-field position to commence his run.
As Robusto started to struggle and Sir Delius flashed passed him, Lindermann just kept going, holding a narrowly, but winning margin on the line.
Working home well to finish in third was two-time Melbourne Cup runner Vauban (Fr) (Gailway), while the Chad Schofield ridden Ceolwulf could only manage fourth, some two and a half lengths off the winner.
With recent wet tracks hindering Lindermann’s prep, trainer Chris Waller was pleased to see him get conditions to suit.
“It has been tough the last couple of runs, wet tracks and things like that,” said Waller.
“He's a stable favourite, he would be right up there in the top few. You don't want to see horses running down the track like he has been."
“We put our heads together and said, this horse has never looked better. If anything, he looked a bit too well last start. He has never worked better, the track riders, our foreman and strapper, all of us said let's keep pushing on."
“We are at the point of saying, 'sorry Nash, do you mind riding him again. He mightn't be in the best form' and Nash said, 'he's been good to me. I'll stick with him.' As they say, the band is back together."
Like Waller, Rawiller understands that Lindermann just doesn’t handle wet tracks.
“He's just been a little bit inconclusive on these heavy tracks,” said Rawiller.
“To me, for a horse who usually gives his all every time, I thought he'd been a little bit quick to give the game away. Chris took him home, had a great look at him. It wasn't until Wednesday that I accepted the ride.
“This was his race today on the platter and was special to see him come out and do it.
“He's the best horse in the race. I knew he wouldn't let me down if he turned up and if he didn't, I would have sat up on 150m and looked after him because he deserves it – he's been a great horse.”
Taking his record to six wins, and nine placed efforts from 32 starts with earnings of $2,288,550, Lindermann is the lone stakes winner amongst four winners from four to the races out of the stakes placed Stratum mare Self Esteem, who also finish fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes of her 3yo season.
From the family of Champion 2yo and 3yo Colt Assertive Lad and the Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Assertive Lass, who is in turn the dam of Group 1 winner and Group 1 sire Reset, Self Esteem has a 2yo colt named Iommi (Written By) followed by an unnamed yearling filly by Pierro.
There will be no foal this season for Self Esteem with the mare missing to both Anamoe and Wootton Bassett.
Lindermann is one of 97 stakes winners for Lonhro, who is currently represented by four sons at stud in Australia and one in New Zealand.
