Waller’s Providence provides landmark winners for McDonald and Wootton Bassett in classy Derby display
The late Wootton Bassett’s (Iffraaj) legacy has been extended by his first Australian-bred elite winner after Chris Waller and James McDonald continued their phenomenal run of success with Providence’s win the Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).
In a quinella for Waller and the China Horse Club – Newgate Farm axis, the strapping colt led home Monopolistic (Savabeel) by 0.94 lengths, with Les Bridge’s $91 longshot Inspired Legend (Dundeel) taking third a further 0.3 lengths away.
Chasing only his second win at start number 15, Providence was solid in betting as a $5 second elect for Saturday’s Eagle Farm Classic following his eye-catching third in Doomben’s Rough Habit Plate (Gr 3, 2000m).
And he didn’t disappoint in the $1 million feature as he shot his earnings well past the $625,000 figure paid for him by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy when he was offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds’ at Inglis Easter 2024.
Jumping from gate six of 18, McDonald had Providence travelling sweetly just behind midfield, one off the fence as they went at a genuine pace.
McDonald eased well wide as the field drifted away from the fence around the home turn on the Soft 5 track, and the colt responded with a brilliant burst of acceleration. He chased down the leaders to hit the front at the 300 metres and dashed to a decisive two-length break, while $6.50 third-favourite Monopolistic followed him home.
Different Gravy (Ghaiyyath) produced a vastly improved run to take fourth at $13, almost four lengths ahead of $4.40 favourite Solid Gold (Savabeel), who enjoyed a favourable forward position but weakened late in her run.
Providence’s $600,000 first prize made Wootton Bassett – who died at Coolmore Australia last spring whilst standing at an Australian shuttle record fee of $385,000 (inc GST) – another contender in an intriguing second season sires’ battle.
He came into Saturday fourth on that table, $599,000 behind Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) in third and $749,000 behind top spot, with Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) and Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) the top two.
Waller celebrated his 201st elite success a week after he and McDonald took the Doomben Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) with Birdman (Free Eagle), and said Providence was an exciting colt with a promising future.
Should he keep developing, the son of MRC Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) placegetter Southbank (Fastnet Rock) will likely fill a hole for stamina on Newgate’s expansive, speed-centric stallion roster.
“Great ride from James, good team of owners. They constantly support racing and they’ve quinella’d the race with two nice stayers with bright futures,” Waller said.
“We just see Queensland each and every winter as a springboard for a lot of our better horses. And these horses are still on the up, so very exciting for connections.”
Waller said Providence was more effective when ridden quietly.
“Very much so, and that suits our style of training as well,” he said. “We’re not hustle and bustle types of trainers. We just let the horses build through their preparation and in turn that’s how we have to ride them on race day.
“If we try and ride them up on the speed it’s hard because they’re not used to it. So, yeah, races like this and grand finals seem to suit.”
McDonald, who took his Australian record Group 1 tally to 140 and also landed his 16th Australian Group 1 of the season, equalling the all-time record set by “Miracle” Mal Johnston in 1979-80, agreed Providence was best ridden well off the pace.
“It’s just taken us four preps to work that out, but we’ve got there in the end. He’s ran out pretty strong,” he said.
“To be fair, I couldn’t have dreamed up a better run. It just worked out so, so well. He had such a resting run the first half and was able to just build into it when I wanted to. And he was strong.
“He’s probably not a true stayer, but at ten furlongs, he’s pretty sharp and he’s just come a long way in a short time. He’s a lovely horse to do anything with and a great attitude.
“It was a nice flying race and there was no real hiccup at all. He ducked in late, but it was because he was tired, but he’s done a good job.”
Asked about his charges being well-presented, Waller – who has 465 named horses on his books – quipped: “Most times. I’ve still got slow horses. We’ve got more slow ones than anyone, but yeah, in the big races, we certainly have had a good run.”
With four starters in the Derby, Waller said the choice of jockeys came down to trying to give McDonald the best rides.
“So I’ve got to be accurate in my decisions,” the master trainer said. “He doesn’t care really what he rides, he just obviously respects our decision and that’s why he ended up on the winner.”
Thankfully for McDonald, Waller’s judgment appears extremely reliable.
“You obviously put your trust in the stable and hope that we are on the best one and he’s normally pretty right all the time and he looks after us very well,” McDonald said.
Providence is the second foal and only runner of Southbank, whose filly by Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) was bought from Sledmere Stud’s draft at Magic Millions Gold Coast this year by Laurel Oak Bloodstock for $460,000.
The mare now has a weanling colt by Zoustar (Northern Meteor), who covered her again last spring.
Providence became Wootton Bassett’s fourth Australia-bred stakes winner, all of them coming in his second season of runners.
The late stallion has 86 stakes winners worldwide from 942 runners at a resounding 9.13 per cent.