Champion trainer Chris Waller credited the versatility of the Easter Yearling Sale when his exciting 3YO colt Stormy Marco won today’s G1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.
Regarded globally as ‘The Best of the Best’, Inglis Easter produced another top-level victor today when Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett) led in a trifecta of Inglis graduates in the Derby, defeating Cold Shower and Quick Finish.
Waller teamed up with Guy Mulcaster and Hermitage Thoroughbreds to buy Stormy Marco from the Coolmore draft at last year’s Easter Sale for $300,000.
He was initially a $70,000 Australian Weanling Sale purchase for Tasman Bloodstock from the Rathmore Lodge draft, who bred the colt with partners.
Stormy Marco has spent his entire career in black type races since winning the Clarendon Stakes on debut as a juvenile.
He is a winner from 1400m to 2500m, was G1 placed at two and is now a G1 winner at three and it’s that versatility Waller believes sets him apart from the rest.
“That’s the beauty of the Easter Sale, you can buy whatever you want. You can buy a miler and win a Derby or they can win a JJ Atkins or a Group 1 sprint or anything in between,’’ Waller said.
“He’s a lovely colt Stormy Marco, he stood up as a 2YO, he’s been a bit unlucky up until today as a spring 3YO so it was good to see him get that good win today.
“He’s well bred, a beautiful type and it’s an honour to get another big win for The Hermitage.
“The Spring Champion was always the plan and he didn’t have a lot of luck in that and the race just wasn’t run to suit so he was fit and ready to go so we opted to back him up.
“That’s the beauty of the horse, he’s fit and such a healthy horse so when he ticked all the boxes Tuesday morning, we decided to send him down to Melbourne and the rest is history.’’
For Rathmore’s Ross Hatton, today was a “life changing’’ result.
“Fantastic. It’s a surreal experience to say the least. I was at Flemington, it was an unbelievable day, we had the full on experience, jumping around, it was fantastic,’’ Hatton said.
“I’ve got two kids, they’re the two best experiences of my life and this is number three.
“What does it mean for us? I grabbed James McDonald and gave him a hug and said ‘thank you so much, this is life changing’.
“We’ve got a half brother by Dirty Work to sell at the Inglis Premier Sale next year, he’s an absolute beauty.’’
Coolmore’s Paddy Oman added: “Wootton Bassett is an incredible sire who has now produced Group 1 Derby winners from each of his first two Australian-bred crops.
“Stormy Marco was identified by Guy Mulcaster on behalf of Hermitage at Easter as a potential Derby type and for him to go on and win such a time-honoured race is extremely satisfying for us all.’’
Stormy Marco becomes the 129th individual G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018.
