The Chris Waller trained Delectation scored an upset win over the odds on favourite Chautauqua in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) down the Flemington straight today.
Delectation, red and yellow, knocks off the odds on favourite Chautauqua, the grey, to win the Darley Classic at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winning rider James McDonald settled Delectation at the tail of the field with all nine runners veering towards the grandstand side of the track.
The Robert Heathcote trained and 2013 Darley Classic winner Buffering ($17) set the pace while Dwayne Dunn was happy to sit in second last spot in $1.90 favourite Chautauqua.
Damian Browne was able to get a kick out of Buffering at the 100m when the challengers came with Chautauqua and last year’s winner Terravista ($9.50) leading the charge.
But McDonald was able to weave in between runners and push Delectation ($14) to the front over the final fifty metres to beat Chautauqua by a head with Terravista poking up along the outside fence to claim third spot another head away.
Today’s win by Delectation was Waller’s second Group 1 over the four Day Melbourne Cup Carnival after taking out the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day last Saturday with $21 outsider Japonisme.
“It was a great field of sprinters,” Waller said.
Delectation was backing up after missing a place when fourth last Saturday in the Group 2 $300,000 tab.com.au Stakes (1200m) with Waller saying that he was out of luck in the run.
“He might not have won on Saturday but he just didn’t have any luck. He just wasn’t in the right part on the day and still ran well,” Waller said
“He has been racing well and proved himself today.”
“He had run second to Chautauqua four weeks ago.”
Originally Waller had not planned to run Delectation in the Darley Classic but after being disappointed with last week’s result, decided to send him around again today.
“We were very bullish about his chances last Saturday and it is deflating when you go home without winning. He was nominated for today and he pulled up so well.”
Darley Classic Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | DELECTATION | Chris Waller | James McDonald | – | 8 | 58.5kg | $14 |
| 2 | 2 | CHAUTAUQUA | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 0.1L | 3 | 58.5kg | $1.90F |
| 3 | 4 | TERRAVISTA | Joseph Pride | Hugh Bowman | 0.2L | 1 | 58.5kg | $9.50 |
| 4 | 1 | BUFFERING | Robert Heathcote | Damian Browne | 0.6L | 6 | 58.5kg | $17 |
| 5 | 8 | SRIKANDI | Ciaron Maher | Kerrin McEvoy | 1.6L | 2 | 56.5kg | $6.50 |
| 6 | 10 | LUMOSTY | Robert Smerdon | Blake Shinn | 2.6L | 9 | 56.5kg | $11 |
| 7 | 6 | FLAMBERGE | Peter G Moody | Vlad Duric | 4.1L | 5 | 58.5kg | $26 |
| 8 | 5 | TIGER TEES (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Craig Newitt | 4.2L | 4 | 58.5kg | $81 |
| 9 | 3 | BOBAN | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 5.95L | 7 | 58.5kg | $26 |
