Chris Waller’s progressive filly Dawn Wall continued her winning streak saluting in the famous European colours of Flaxman Stables in Friday’s Kembla Grange Classic 2017.
Kerrin McEvoy (pictured at Eagle Farm) rode Dawn Wall to a last-to-first win in the Kembla Grange Classic 2017 this autumn. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Also accepted for the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, a wide barrier draw in that Coolmore Classic Day race saw the Waller stable stick with their original intentions.
They saddled-up the three-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock in the $200,000 Group 3 Arrowfield Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) on the back of two straight Sydney wins.
Last time out Dawn Wall put two lengths on her closest rival over 1800m at Rosehill and the challenge in the Kembla Grange Classic was coming back to a mile.
After settling at the back of the pack led around by the favourite Lubiton, jockey Kerrin McEvoy took the length of the straight to wind-up on Dawn Wall.
She put in a fierce chase to run down the nearly all-the-way winner Lubiton, Bjorn Baker’s Sntizel filly down in grade after two Group 2 fifths at Randwick including to La Bella Diosa in the Surround Stakes.
Lubiton went along at a descent tempo up front and held on for second in a brave effort.
Matthew Smith’s last start Spring Stakes runner-up behind subsequent Reisling Stakes winner Frolic, Faraway Town missed the kick on Friday in the Group 3.
Despite the slow start, Faraway Town made up ground to finish off the Kembla Grange Classic trifecta in a fast-finishing third from out wide making the run around them in a nice ride from Corey Brown.
McEvoy meanwhile saved ground on the inside around the corner and Dawn Wall had enough in the tank to charge through the line, showing great ability to not show-up too dour off her last start.
“She got all the favours up the rail, but it was a really good effort coming from last to first up the straight,” stable representative Charlie Duckworth said post-win.
“She’s a beautifully bred filly who will get over a lot more ground and distance than today.
“She’s in for a great autumn.
“She was accepted for tomorrow…but we stuck with the original plan which was always to come here which has worked out well.”
McEvoy was also tipping good things to come for Dawn Wall as she gets out over further.
“She’s progressing really well,” he said.
“She just keeps winning. She’s got a great attitude.”
Last year’s Kembla Grange Classic winner Single Gaze (2016) backed-up a fortnight later to win the $500,000 Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, the March 25 feature a possibility for Dawn Wall this autumn.
To back Dawn Wall next race at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au now who are also offering Enhanced Odds (Max Bet $100 / T&Cs apply) on Saturday’s 2017 Coolmore Classic field that features last year’s Kembla Grange Classic runner-up Dixie Blossoms.
2017 Kembla Grange Classic Results & Finishing Order
Kembla Grange Race 6 – 10/03/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | DAWN WALL | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | – | 11 | 54kg | $4.80 |
| 2 | 5 | LUBITON | Bjorn Baker | Glyn Schofield | 0.4L | 1 | 54kg | $3.30F |
| 3 | 2 | FARAWAY TOWN | Matthew Smith | Corey Brown | 4.4L | 8 | 54kg | $6 |
| 4 | 13 | PERFECT RHYME | Ron Leemon | Andrew Adkins (a) | 4.9L | 3 | 54kg | $21 |
| 5 | 8 | CONCESSIONS | Scott Singleton | Ms Jess Taylor | 5.7L | 2 | 54kg | $81 |
| 6 | 10 | SIREN’S FURY | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 8.5L | 6 | 54kg | $18 |
| 7 | 3 | HUSSTERICAL | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 8.6L | 5 | 54kg | $3.60 |
| 8 | 14 | FLEETING STRYKE | Theresa Bateup | Jay Ford | 13.9L | 9 | 54kg | $41 |
| 9 | 9 | CEYLON (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Luke Currie | 16.7L | 10 | 54kg | $11 |
| 10 | 6 | FOXY HOUSEWIFE | Gerald Ryan | Jeff Penza | 16.9L | 7 | 54kg | $19 |
| 11 | 15 | HOLD ALL TICKETS | Scott Aspery | Grant Buckley | 17L | 4 | 54kg | $91 |
| – | 7 | THE PINNACLE | Peter & Paul Snowden | Mitchell Bell | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 1 | FRENCH FERN | David Payne | – | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 12 | JORGEUS | Shaun Coady | Ms Kayla Nisbet | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 11 | CONCISELY | John P Thompson | Christian Reith | – | 0 | – | – |
