Waller runners to duke it out in Queensland Derby

Special Swey
Tyler Schiller guides Special Swey to victory in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate. (Photo: Darren Winningham)

Special Swey is ready to prove how special he is when he lines up in the $1 million Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm this Saturday.

In his way over the 2400m journey is not only the carpark draw, but also the first clash with his talented stablemate Kovalica.

Joining the Chris Waller stable, Special Swey won by 1.5 lengths in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate earlier this month on his Australian debut when paying $26 with online bookmakers.

Under Tyler Schiller, the Sweynesse x Mia Mamma gelding caused the boilover after taking the lead from the jump without any contest and then kicking clear in the home straight to hold on from The Vowels.


2023 Rough Habit Plate replay

Winner: Special Swey



The stage is now set for a huge battle over the 2400m with The Vowels ($13) and Tapildoodledo ($51) also throwing down the challenge in the Group 1 feature for three-year-olds.

Kovalica (8:5-0-2) triumphed in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas before finishing third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup but was scratched from the Rough Habit, so all eyes will be on the contest between these two Waller runners this weekend.

He will begin as odds-on favourite, currently paying $1.95 with the top betting sites.

Waller was impressed with the performance from Special Swey in the Rough Habit.

“He nailed it, he’s obviously very smart. He knew how slow they were going and decided ‘let’s go’,” he told media after the race.

“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’.”

Kovalica has drawn gate five with James McDonald on board setting up a great opportunity from the decent alley, while Special Swey ($10) has drawn barrier 17 with Nash Rawiller booked to ride.

2023 Queensland Derby field

No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 Silks
Kovalica
Chris Waller
James McDonald
5
57kg
2 Silks
The Vowels
Toby & Trent Edmonds
James Orman
14
57kg
3 Silks
Aberfeldie Boy
Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock
Craig Newitt
8
57kg
4 Silks
Promises Kept
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Mark Zahra
1
57kg
5 Silks
Andalus
John O’Shea
Blake Shinn
19
57kg
6 Silks
Tapildoodledo
Kerry Taplin
Ben Thompson
7
57kg
7 Silks
Waitak
Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
Jake Bayliss
15
57kg
8 Silks
Special Swey
Chris Waller
Nash Rawiller
17
57kg
9 Silks
Stroke Of Luck
John O’Shea
Ben Melham
4
57kg
10 Silks
Smartawi
Gregory Hickman
Tyler Schiller
18
57kg
11 Silks
Arby
Darryn & Briar Weatherley
Sam Weatherley
16
57kg
12 Silks
Cut On A Dime
Bryce Heys
Damien Thornton
2
57kg
13 Silks
The Englishman
Peter & Paul Snowden
Chad Schofield
13
57kg
14 Silks
Fame
Peter Moody
Jason Collett
12
57kg
15 Silks
Xtrarevz
John Sargent
Joshua Parr
6
57kg
16 Silks
Sacred Mission
David Vandyke
Craig Williams
10
57kg
17 Silks
Amalgamation
Marcus Wilson
Samantha Collett
20
57kg
18 Silks
True Blue
Matthew Smith
Opie Bosson
11
57kg
19 Silks
Subarctic (1E)
Matthew Smith
TBC
9
57kg
20 Silks
Artful Girl (2E)
Kevin Kemp
Marnu Potgieter
3
55kg

More horse racing news

Related posts