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Posted 2010-08-21 22:04:49  
Warwick Stakes Trifecta For Chris Waller

 Trainer Chris Waller didn't know which way to look as three of his best horses collared the trifecta in the $150,000 Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm today.

Sweeping the placings in the Group 2 race with Metal Bender, Triple Honour and the favourite Danleigh reaffirmed the arrival of Waller as a major force in Sydney racing and augers well for what his stable may be able to achieve this spring.

Having three horses fill the placings in any race is a special achievement for any trainer but more so when it comes in one of Sydney's most prominent weight-for-age races.

Waller seemed gobsmacked by the result.

“It is a privilege to train these types of horse and when it works out like that it is unbelievable,” he said

“It just goes to show the work that our staff has done to get them here.

“They trialled here on Monday and their fitness was good enough to win a high quality race.

'The horses are flying – I'm pretty happy with what's happening.”

Waller said the trio may clash again in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 4 before they go their separate ways with Metal Bender, the outsider of his three runners today, the horse he is most excited about.

“I think it is pretty special for Metal Bender to come out and win at 1400m,” Waller said.

“He will have his next start in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick and we'll see where we are at after that.

“We are on the right path with him.”

Metal Bender had not raced since he won the Hollindale Stakes-Doomben Cup in Queensland in May and Waller has him heading for the $3 million W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley as his ultimate spring goal.

Triple Honour, the 2008 Doncaster Handicap winner, made a great start to his spring campaign that is aimed at the Caulfield Cup while Danleigh pleased the trainer despite being outsprinted to the line by his stablemates.

“There is more improvement to come from Danleigh,” Waller said.

Metal Bender continued a great run in feature races for young jockey Tim Clark, who had earlier won the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes on Parables for the Peter Snowden stable to go with his San Domenico Stakes success for that stable on August 7 aboard Obsequious.

Clark said he expected Metal Bender to perform well fresh and can only hope he gets another opportunity on the five-year-old during the spring.

“I was pretty confident that he would run very well. He is such a good horse,” Clark said.

“He did not have long off after Queensland and he had a bit of sun up there and he had residual fitness.

“He had trialled twice so he was pretty much up to the mark. He is a tough horse and he has a good will to win.”

Metal Bender had raced midfield and gained a split through the pack in the straight to challenge the leaders.

Triple Honour had loomed out wide as the winner after sprinting quickly from off the pace but Metal Bender went home best to gain victory by a short neck.

Danleigh had raced closer than expected behind the speed. He got into the clear at the right time but did not accelerate as quickly as expected to finish three quarters of a length behind Triple Honour.

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