Tyler Schiller and Chris Waller have combined to cause a major boilover in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate with Special Swey, presenting some queries over some of the Queensland Derby contenders with the big 2400m race set to be run and won in two weeks’ time.
Jumping as a massive outsider at $34 with online bookmakers, Special Swey went straight to the front and led with no real contest, before kicking clear in the home straight to hold on and record his second career victory at her first Australian start.
Schiller could have produced the ride of the day on the son of Sweynesse, rating him to absolute perfection and giving him a peach of a ride in the three-year-old feature.
With Special Swey giving them a galloping lesson in the traditional lead-up, it will leave a few punters scratching the head, trying to work out what to do with the rest of the field if they choose to go to the Derby in two weeks.
2023 Rough Habit Plate Replay – Special Swey
Chris Waller scratched his raging favourite Kovalica from the Rough Habit earlier in the day; however, he still won the race with his newly acquired gelding from New Zealand, and he spoke post-race.
“I’ve only had the horse about ten days. A great friend of mine Tony Muollo owns the horse, his brother Luigi bred the horse so it’s a good little story,” Waller said.
“Tony has been a great supporter of mine, he picked the horse out and said ‘I think we should take this horse to Queensland.’ Full credit to Tony.
“He did a bit of work, he was ridden similar to how he was ridden today, Tyler (Schiller) obviously did his homework. It was good to watch.
“He nailed it, he’s obviously very smart. He knew how slow they were going and decided ‘let’s go.’
“He’s still behind Kovalica, but if there’s a chink in Kovalica’s armour he’ll run a strong 2400m.
“Certainly number two but he’s putting his head up and saying ‘I might enjoy this Queensland life.”
Tyler Schiller was given some nice compliments from Waller and he spoke post-race about the win in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate.
“He was terrific. He jumped and travelled probably too keen going around that turn going into the back straight,” Schiller said.
“When I had a lap full of horse, they weren’t going at an overly quick gallop so I just let him cruise up there and he ended up getting to the front on his ear, I just let him keep rolling.
“Chris (Waller) said he is a little bit one-paced, probably doesn’t love the soft ground that he’s been running on in New Zealand and he showed a really good staying performance today.
“It was a terrific training performance too. I don’t think he had a trial over here, he went straight to the races. Great performance.”
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