Collett considering Derby run option for Waiau Pal

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 40

Collett considering Derby run option for Waiau Pal

NZPA-AAP / Melbourne New Zealand galloper, Waiau Pal, could try for a triple classic crown after his decisive win in the Group Two sAustl 25,000 V.R.C. St Leger Stakes (2800 m at Flemington on Tuesday. His trainer, Richard Collett, aged 26, was so impressed by the victory that he has made tentative plans to run the gelding in both the Group One sAust2oo,ooo South Australian Derby (2400 m on May 6 and the Group Three sAustso,ooo South Australian St Leger Stakes (2700 m a fortnight later. “I was just going to run him in the St Leger over there but we’ll see how the horse comes through this race and consider the South Australian Derby as well,” Collett said. “He hasn’t had as hard a campaign as King High so it is a possibility.” Collett is on his first trip to Australia with a horse and flew to Melbourne with Waiau Pal, arriving at 5 p.m. on Monday.

His brother, Jimmy, aged 28, who rode Society Bay on a previous visit across the Tasman, had the honour of riding Waiau Pal. Richard Collett said they came over for Tuesday’s race after the horse beat Mountain Air in a good stayers’ race at Ellerslie two starts ago at Easter.

The decision gave him his biggest race success. He only retired from race riding 12 days ago but has been training for five years, the last two under contract for Clearwood Stud at Pukekohe in New Zealand. Waiau Pal is owned by Keith Clark, a retired New Zealand grazier, who bred the horse from his mare, Robyn’s Girl. Waiau Pal’s sire, the Mr Prospector stallion Cache Of Gold, has had only two individual winners and still hasn’t a stud to stand at next season. Waiau Pal, which has earned nearly $96,000, has started 16 times for three wins and five placings. He landed a mid-betting plunge, opening at 8-1 and being heavily backed into 4-1.

He eventually eased to start at 13-2 which Collett described as remarkable odds.

“He stays really well and if you’d seen him race you wouldn’t have sent him out at those odds,” Collett said. “I thought he’d be second favourite.” Collett said Waiau Pal had only recently shown enough maturity to stand a stayer’s preparation. “He’s only had four runs over ground before this race because he has been a late maturing three-year-old. Only in the last two months has he

been strong enough to run distance,” he said. Collett had thought Waiau Pal would have been hard to beat in the New Zealand Derby but the horse ricked a joint last October and had to be spelled. The St Leger win was significant compensation. Jimmy Collett let Waiau Pal drop out in the early stages and he had only two horses behind him in the 17-horse field until the 1200 m. Outsider, Margaux Magic, led the field passing the 800 m when Waiau Pal was still worse than mid-field although racing with the favourite Fame The Spur, which had been backed from 13-8 to 10-9, and Prince Ormenium.

Collett made a sharp forward move rounding the home turn and urged Waiau Pal after Son of Carringbush, which dashed clear at the top of the straight. Collett rode confidently, relying on Waiau Pal’s strength at the finish, and he drew to the lead inside the last 200 m to win by one and a quarter lengths. Imperial Salute (10-1) finished fast without threatening to run second while Son of Carringbush (12-1) fought on a similar distance away third. Collett said it was likely that Waiau Pal would return to Melbourne next spring with the Cups in mind.