The second season sire table changed shape after the Group I Queensland Derby with the late Wootton Bassett (GB) zooming into second place with a bullet after his classy colt Providence took the prize.
The $1million Group I BRC Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday attracted a full field of up and coming stayers and was won in commanding style by blueblood Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Providence.
Trained by Chris Waller, Providence was fifth in the Group I VRC Victoria Derby last spring and with Group placings at his past two starts in the ATC Frank Packer Plate and BRC Rough Habit Plate, he loomed as a horse ready to fire.
One of four in the race for the Waller stable, Providence was ridden by champion James McDonald, who gave him a great ride with the good-looking colt powering through his gears to win by a length and a half over his stablemate Monopolistic with both colts carrying the Newgate / China Horse Club colours.
Third in the race was Dundeel colt Inspired Legend, who was co-bred by Arrowfield with Jonathan Munz's GSA Bloodstock, which also bred and sold the winner.
The win was the 201st Group I win for Chris Waller.
“The 201st Group 1 is easier than the first one, that's for sure. Great ride from James and a good team of owners,” said Chris Waller.
“They constantly support racing and have quinellaed the race with two nice stayers with bright futures. We just see Queensland each and every winter as a springboard for a lot of our better horses and these horses are still on the up, so very exciting for connections."
A $625,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Bhima Thoroughbreds for China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy, Providence has the overall record of two wins and five placings from 15 starts with prizemoney just shy of $1million.
Providence was bred by GSA Bloodstock and is the first winner from Group I placed Fastnet Rock mare Southbank. He has a staying lean to his pedigree as Southbank is from Group III winning stayer Rezoned, a full sister to four time Group I winning stayer Preferment, who was also trained by Chris Waller and won over $3.4million.
Southbank has a yearling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB), then lost a foal by Zoustar and is now back in foal to Widden Stud’s champion sire again.
Providence is the 86th stakes-winner for ill-fated sire Wootton Bassett and is his first Australian bred Group I winner.
