Waller takes out Wintergarden Stakes with Cellarman
PUNTERS questioned why champion trainer Chris Waller was lining up maiden colt Cellarman in the Listed Wintergarden Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but those questions were answered.
The Shellscrape colt burst through runners over the concluding stages to score at odds of $8.50, but it had to survive a protest lodged by jockey Jim Byrne who rode second placegetter Brulee.
Waller sees some similarity with Shellscrape in Cellarman and believes he could have another spring-bound juvenile.
“He’ll be a nice horse to follow in the spring and he reminds me a lot of Shellscrape,” Waller said.
“That horse went on to bigger and better things and, who knows, this bloke might be the same.”
Punters had to wait to collect on the colt as Jim Byrne lodged a protest for interference suffered at the 300m. Byrne claimed that his mount Brulee lost momentum when it was bumped heavily by Cellarman.
“I had established a run when Hugh Bowman has directed his mount inwards and I’ve received heavy contact losing my momentum completely,” Byrne said.
“It was quite detrimental to my chances because I had to alter course and stop riding. I was entitled to clear running right to the line and didn’t receive it.”
Bowman said Brulee had plenty of opportunity to win the race.
“I was just as entitled to the run as much as he was,” Bowman said.
“At the 50 metres he was head and head with me but wasn’t able to get past me.”