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Leading Sydney Cup hope Permit will have his final hit-out before the Group 1 staying feature when starting as favourite in the Group 2 Chairman's Quality at Randwick tomorrow.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Permit is currently a $3 favourite with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds to claim the Group 2 Schweppes Chairman's Quality (2600m) which features a number of other Sydney Cup hopefuls.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller believes the imported stayer looks well suited in the event ideally placed on the limit weight after his latest success in the Listed Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.
“Everything looks in order for him,” Waller said.
“He is on the limit weight, it's the right distance and he seems very versatile in terms of handling various track conditions.
“He seems a very bulletproof horse so I'm thoroughly looking forward to tomorrow.
“It is another step for him and it will be a good pointer towards the Sydney Cup.”
Permit has been a model of consistency since arriving at the Chris Waller stable having recorded three wins and three minor placings from six starts.
The Dansili gelding keeps rising to the tasks set for him heading towards a main goal of the $500,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup at Randwick on April 28.
“We've had the Sydney Cup in mind as soon as he started showing some form,” Waller told Sky Sports Radio.
“He has stayed on track, every race has been a good one and his confidence seems to have grown.”
Waller will be represented the Group 1 David Jones Australian Derby (2400m) by the promising Hoylonny.
The Lonhro colt goes into the race as an outsider despite working home well to finish sixth in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) behind Gai Waterhouse-trained Laser Hawk.
“He finished just behind them,” Waller said.
“He had a wide draw to contend with, he came from last and you could make a case for him that he should have finished closer.
“Michael Rodd said he was still strong on the line suggesting that we should press on towards the Derby. You never know over this distance. It will trip up a few horses and hopefully our horse can stay as well as some of those fancied ones.”
Hoylonny will be equipped with blinkers for the first time in a bid to spark some additional improvement.
“The blinkers are being used just to fire him up a little bit and get some more aggression into him in the middle stages of his race,” Waller said.
“He is a very laid back horse, he is just a beautiful horse. I think next preparation we'll see a horse really attack the line and take the next step in terms of class.”
Chris Waller saddled up King Gladiator in the 2011 renewal of the Australian Derby who finished fifth behind Danny O'Brien-trained Shamrocker.
