Metropolitan next on the agenda for Waller stayer
FORMER New Zealand stayer Antonio Giuseppe was made to work when winning the Schweppes Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday, but trainer Chris Waller believes it’s now good enough to run in the Metropolitan.
Antonio Giuseppe ($2.05 at CrownBet) was a heavily-backed favourite having won its last two races on rain-affected tracks and although it faced a challenge from stablemate Four Carat in the straight, it fought back with race fitness on its side.
“It was hard for the punters and for me watching,” Waller said.
“He was off the bridle a long way from home but he sustained a long run and kept coming.
“It showed that Four Carat was a great run first-up also. He was a horse that went missing last preparation and he’s obviously come back well.”
Waller believes both horses will enjoy more distance this campaign with Antonio Giuseppe staying in Sydney and Four Carat heading to Melbourne for a run on Melbourne Cup day.
“Stepping Antonio Giuseppe up in trip will be more suitable because he won’t go through that flat spot and will be able to quicken a lot better,” Waller said.
“The Metropolitan is the dream, hence the reason why he was nominated for it but he’s going to have to skip a class somewhere along the way which is not perfect.
“Four Carat will go down to Melbourne. The last time he won was at Caulfield so he’ll go for the same race this year and then there’s that 2800 metre race on Melbourne Cup day. He had no luck in that race last year whatsoever, he just got knocked off.”