The Chris Waller-trained Medatsu ran out a gritty winner of the Jockeys Appreciation Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday as the four-year-old gelding recorded his first Sydney metropolitan victory.
Medatsu commenced his career in New Zealand under the tutelage of Clint Isdale for whom he had placed in three of four starts, including finishing third in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m).
Transferred to Waller’s Sydney operation last spring, the Kiwi import was a good winner at Kembla Grange over 2000m before finishing down the track in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
After a lengthy spell, the son of Staphanos was sent out a $21 chance fresh-up and came from last to loop the field just before straightening under a clever Tommy Berry ride and fought gamely to defeat Until Valhalla and Autumnation.
“There was good pace early but they backed off through the mid-stages and Tommy had the initiative to get rolling a bit earlier,” Waller said.
“I didn’t know if he would sustain the run because he did get going early but to the horse’s credit he certainly did.
“Tony Muollo and his brother Luigi thought enough of him to send him to Australia and have a little look at those spring three-year-old races, but he must have just had a little problem. He has had a decent break, and he has shown why he was brought to Australia with his performance today.”
Winning jockey Tommy Berry confirmed that Waller had given him an open book to put the gelding into the race a little bit early.
“I’m not sure if he would have liked it to be as early as I did, but I just thought because they had gone very steady, I didn’t want to make my move a bit late and have everyone start popping before the corner,” Berry said.
“I made my move when it was a bit early for everyone else to make their runs and he sustained it really well.
“Full credit to Chris and his team. They had a really good foundation in this horse first-up.
“He is a progressive staying type and obviously Chris had a big opinion of him running him in a Group One at his second start here in Australia which you don’t see him usually do. He has had a little bit of time off and matured quite nicely and this is the start of what is to come from him.”
Bred by Luigi Muollo’s Explosive Breeding Ltd, Medatsu is by Novara Park stallion Staphanos and is out of the Mastercraftsman mare Christine Ann. He is a half-brother to Listed winner Rocababy. – NZ Racing Desk
