Under the guidance of Nash Rawiller and the master trainer Chris Waller, Selino has returned to the winners’ circle for the first time in over two years in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Before the seven-year-old gelded son of Champs Elysees returned to the racetrack back in February this year, he had just over a year off after running eighth in the 2021 Melbourne Cup.
Although Selino hasn’t finished in the placings at all five of his starts this preparation, Waller has always said that he is a deadest 3200m specialist, and now three of his four wins have been at the distance after his Brisbane Cup victory.
The race favourite Teofilo Star ensured a strong gallop, but when the whips were cracking 500m from home, the favourite didn’t have much left in the tank and was quickly gathered up by the winner and Warning who finished second.
The money was there to suggest that Selino could run a good race, as he was backed in from $12 to jump at $9 with most online bookmakers, and as he rounded the home turn five-wide under a hold, many of his followers would have been very happy with how the race was panning out, and all he had to do was fight off the challenge of Warning.
2023 Brisbane Cup Replay – Selino
After claiming his second winner on Stradbroke Handicap Day, Chris Waller spoke post-race about how patient he has been with this gelding after he had a setback.
“There certainly is. He won the Sydney Cup then he had a setback,” Waller said.
“It has been a long story and a lot of friends involved in the ownership as well.
“He’s a genuine two-miler and illustrated that.
“He ran in a Sydney Cup, he ran well in a Melbourne Cup and his run in the Sydney Cup this year was good.
“It has just been trying to find races to get fit for a Brisbane Cup so he has been from Melbourne and back and then Nash is good friends as well.
“Nash can pull something out, can’t he.”
Speaking of Nash Rawiller, he brought up his first winner of the day and he spoke post-race about the win of Selino.
“We got back a fair while so this is pretty special. I’ve been keen to ride him a few times where he’s run super races, but he hasn’t got my weight, so I don’t now, he might make the Melbourne Cup now,” Rawiller said.
“He was good. He was the best stayer and the best turned out in the race and he’s got the job done.
“One thing is for sure it does keep the dream of the Melbourne Cup alive, doesn’t it.
“It has been a while since he’s won. It’s not like he does it the easy way.
“I was really happy to see him show that fight that he showed late.
“Full credit to the team and he’s obviously a special horse to everyone.”
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