Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, Waterford was second up from a spell and motored to the line to win by more than two lengths taking his overall record to seven wins and nine placings from 30 starts with earnings topping $1.3million.
“He loves Rosehill. It was a lovely ride from James to park him so close. The race was his for the taking at the 400-metre mark. He got out and he stuck solid all the way to the line. It was a good win,” said Chris Waller, who will consider a start in the Group I Epsom for the seven year-old son of Awtaad, whose owners include racing personality Richard Callander.
"There are some pretty influential owners in the horse who like to have their say and I respect their say. They know what they're talking about. So we will see what they've got to say, otherwise it's back here for the Alan Brown in a couple of weeks, which is a good prizemoney race too."
Waterford is a half-brother to Listed Wagga Cup winner Wicklow (IRE) and is now the best of four winners from Wake Up (Ger), who is also now at stud in Australia.
A half-sister to stakes-winners Wild King and Path Wind, the dam of Group I German Derby winner Palladium, Wake Up is owned by Richard Pegum.
She has a two year-old filly by Maurice (Jpn), a yearling filly by Zousain and is due to foal to Harry Angel (IRE).
Waterford is the 14th stakes-winner for Awtaad, one of the Shadwell stallions that stands at a fee of € 7,500.
