Baller bounces to an overdue Randwick win
The Anthony Cummings-trained Baller has relished a drop in grade to win at Randwick.
Since he won a maiden on debut, Baller has been from benchmark grade to Group One level and back again with mixed success, finally getting a confidence-boosting result at Randwick.
Trainer Anthony Cummings has always had a high opinion of Baller whose fourth win has taken a bit longer than he hoped.
Baller went to Saturday’s benchmark 78 (1200m) as the $2.50 favourite after being unplaced in the Group Three Show County two weeks ago.
He made light of his 59.5kg to beat Northern Rivers horse Tarbert ( $11) by two lengths with the runner-up’s trainer John Shelton hoping he can secure a berth in the $1.3 million Kosciuszko on October 19.
Shelton trained Belflyer to win the inaugural Kosciuszko last year and is hoping both stablemates get to the race.
Despite his 76 rating, Baller was clearly a grade above his opposition.
“He’s got class and is strong enough to carry the weight,” Cummings said.
“He just came back in really big off his break and it’s taken an awful lot of work, and certainly one run, to get him even close to where he needs to be.
“I think today will top him off and he’ll go back to stakes grade and be effective there.”
Baller will back up from his win to run in next week’s Group Two Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Roseill.
Nash Rawiller racked up his third win from the first four races on Baller.
“He showed his class a bit today in that field and he has still got a bit more to come,” he said.