Don’t Waiver to chase staying series
Trainer Stuart Kendrick will set Don’t Waiver for Brisbane’s summer staying series.
Queensland three-year-old Don’t Waiver missed the Group One Spring Champion Stakes but will get his chance in top company before too long.
Caloundra trainer Stuart Kendrick is a big fan of Don’t Waiver who has been one of his better performers this season and nominated him for Saturday’s Spring Champion at Randwick won by Shadow Hero.
The trainer had no luck in the day’s other major race when Eric The Eel beat one runner home in the Caulfield Guineas in Melbourne.
“We had Don’t Waiver in the Spring Champion but it looked like there were a couple of superior horses in the field at this time of the year,” Kendrick said.
“It was a long way to go to flatten him in a tough race. So we will give him a little break and bring him back for the summer three-year-old stayers series in Brisbane.
“The series was successful last year and I would like to support it this year.”
Racing Queensland introduced the three-year-old stayers series last year with the idea of encouraging more young horses to be tried over a middle distance.
It was also aimed at getting more prize money for Queensland horses so they could make the field for the Queensland Oaks and Derby.
The final was won by Trusty Lad who went on to run in the Queensland Derby.
Don’t Waiver has already shown he will be more than handy over a middle distance including a last-start third in a three-way photo finish at Eagle Farm.
“His run at 1800 metres last start was very good behind a future top horse in Profit,” Kendrick said.
Kendrick said Don’t Waiver had got better with racing and should be ready to resume next month.
Don’t Waiver has won twice and been minor placed three times in seven starts.
An $80,000 buy at the Inglis Easter Sale, Don’t Waiver is by top sire Not A Single Doubt out of the staying bred mare Umatilly.