Chris Waller may have just found his top seed for the 2023 Melbourne Cup as his newest imported galloper – Soulcombe – destroyed his rivals in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup at Flemington on Saturday.
Having his first start in Australia, Soulcombe sat the back of the field over 2600m event and even though the leaders through the anchors out and went at a slow tempo, the import showed a blistering turn of foot to put the quality field away with ease.
Soulcombe was a drifting favourite before the race started, jumping as a $3 favourite with online bookmakers, but there was no worries for punters as he ended up running away with the prize by 2.25 lengths over Luncies and Captain Envious.
Queen’s Cup Replay
With Soulcombe’s win on Saturday, it now means that Chris Waller could have three very good prospects going into next year’s Melbourne Cup, joining Fransesco Guardi and Durston.
“He kept it simple. We didn’t change anything from his UK form and he rode him as he would have been ridden back there.”
Waller said post-race that he didn’t want to change the racing patter on Soulcombe too much on his Australian debut.
“It was really good to see him continue to extend, and he really was explosive in that last 200 metres.
“It was a great experience for horses coming from a different hemisphere.
“It will give the horse a lot of confidence.” Waller was very pleased with his gallopers run and the way he finished his race.
Craig Williams now has a record fourth Queen’s Cup after his big win on Soulcombe on Saturday.
“He’s a really nice horse. He had a really good profile from England.”
Williams was very complimentary of the owners and how they have been able to pick out a very good horse who will be suited to Australian conditions.
“Credit to Chris Waller and his owners. It looks like they are setting this horse to be the best horse he can possibly be and that will be in 6-12 months.
“He only went into third gear and he was quite dominant today.”
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