Coming off a win in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality at Flemington, the Chris Waller-trained Crystal Pegasus (GB) made it four wins on the bounce when earning a golden ticket to the Caulfield Cup with his victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m).
Ridden by Craig Williams, the Chris Waller-trained gelding bettered Pondus after a short, sharp battle to win by one and a quarter length with Dadoozdart (GB) a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
“We thought he would be the horse to beat today. The barrier was going to be a little bit tricky to get him in the right position,” stable representative Jo Taylor said.
“Pondus was the right horse to follow. We were hoping that it was not going to be too much of a sit and sprint, but Craig certainly rated him perfectly.
“He’s earned himself a trip back up to Sydney, and Chris has a few plans for him up there first. Then I think he will have a well-deserved spell before we start a Caulfield Cup campaign with him.
“We’ll have a look at how he pulls up and how it fits in to his program now, but the (Sydney Cup) is the plan. Take him home, wrap him up in cotton wool and get him up to Sydney in one piece for Chris.”
Craig Williams was celebrating another big in for the stable after guiding September Run to victory in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
“It’s a great race now the Melbourne Racing Club, in conjunction with the Mornington Racing Club, have made this an exempt ballot for the Caulfield Cup, and it’s now a target race,” Williams said.
“It’s also two weeks before the Sydney Cup, and this is a lovely imported horse they have been developing, and he’s really starting to hit his straps now.”
A son of Galileo’s Epsom Derby winner Australia, Crystal Pegasus advances his record to seven wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $564,050.
Bred by Southcourt Stud, Crystal Pegasus won twice and placed five times in nine starts before Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Lodge sent him to the 2020 Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
Waller liked what he saw and outlaid 190,000 guineas.
A half-brother to stakes-placed Crystal Hope (Nathaniel), Crystal Pegasus (IRE) is out of the Dansili mare Crystal Etoile, a half-sister to the champion Crystal Ocean (Sea The Stars), Group 1 winner Hillstar (Danehill Dancer), and multiple Group II winner Crystal Capella (Cape Cross).
