Chris Waller won his G1. He just didn't win it with the horse anyone was backing. Beiwacht took out the Schweppes All Aged Stakes at $6.50 with Nash Rawiller, while stablemate Lazzura arrived on the line for second at $15. The $3.40 favourite Angel Capital spent the race trapped on the fence and finished sixth. Six weeks of autumn racing closed with a Waller quinella from the second and third string.
Beiwacht stole it at the 800m
Beiwacht jumped from barrier 2 and sat midfield on the fence until Nash Rawiller saw daylight. He pushed through on the inside at the 800m, took the lead clearly, and was never caught. The first half of the call was a muddle of Briasa leading, Headley Grange challenging and Royal Patronage sitting third, none of which mattered once Rawiller had the breeze.
Straightening, Beiwacht kicked two lengths clear and held the margin through the line. Inside the 50m there was no question. The winning SP of $6.50 looks a fraction generous with hindsight, but that's what happens when three horses at $3.40, $4.60 and $5.50 share the top of the market and the favourite tightens while the market focuses on Jimmysstar and Angel Capital.
This is a Rawiller ride you want on the replay. Patient, opportunistic, and precisely placed.
Angel Capital got no run, and couldn't help herself
Angel Capital started $3.40 and finished sixth. James McDonald rode her forward from barrier 4, and when the leaders took off she ended up "all bottled up on the inside", the caller's phrase, and the right one. Every time McDonald looked for a gap, Briasa was half a length in front of him down the outside and the rail was stacked.
When she finally saw clear air inside the 200m she ran on, and that's the frustration, there was a horse in there. But a G1 at Randwick will punish a leader who can't get off the fence, and that's what happened.
Jimmysstar's wide run was worth the effort
Jimmysstar arrived on the line for third at $5.50 and was beaten by a photo for second. Ethan Brown had him deep through the middle of the race, rolling three-wide with no cover down the outside of Angel Capital, and he produced a strong last 200 for a horse who had to do the work. The distance to the winner was about two lengths, the distance home was full of purpose. Ciaron Maher will back him up at a shorter trip in the spring and he will win a G1.
Lazzura at $15 is the form-line sharpening this carnival. Second Waller string, second across the line, second at the price, the stable quinella was there for anyone who trusted the yard rather than any one horse.
Giga Kick's autumn closes quietly
Giga Kick ran tenth at $9. Rachel King had him settled last through the first 600, and when the tempo lifted he couldn't find his old gears. The Everest winner of two springs ago has now had five starts this prep without a placing at Group level. He's not done, but the 1400m of a G1 at Randwick is clearly not the distance for him any more.
Pericles from barrier 1 sat third early and weakened to seventh at $9.50. Craig Williams was tough on him and the horse had every chance, there's no excuse there, just no kick.
Carnival takeaways
Six weeks of Sydney autumn closed with the biggest stable on the grounds producing the quinella in its most open G1. If you were on Waller's whole team you left Randwick square at worst and ahead at best, if you picked one Waller runner you likely picked the wrong one.
Beiwacht is now the horse with most to gain from this result. A G1 winner at 1400 metres, lightly raced, and still improving. Watch his spring closely.
