3 minute read

The Chris Waller-trained Permit continued to rise through the staying ranks after an impressive win in the $175,000 Group 2 Schweppes Chairman's Quality (2600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The former French trained galloper had won a group 3 before at Longchamp then went off the boil after moving to Michael Moroney's stables but since Waller has had a hold of him the stayer has gone from strength to strength.

Ridden brilliantly by Corey Brown, Permit settled in the second half of the field, a good eight lengths off race leader Solid Billing.

Little changed in the run but as the field approached the home corner and rounded the turn everything Brown touched turned to gold. The pair got run after run as the hit the bend and then angled off into open space at the 350m, ready to strike.

It took Permit 100m to wind up but once Brown got him into top gear the race was over. He picked up Older Than Time at the 150m before going on to score a comfortable win.

At the line the margin was three quarters of a length to Older Than Time with Beijing Boy at short half head away in third place.

“From an awkward barrier Corey had him a great position, a lot closer than I thought he would have been,” Waller said.

“I put a lot of pressure on my jockeys and I don't think it helps in big races, they can often too much to instructions and to Corey's credit he has back himself, got closer than I thought he would have been and got a gem of a run.

“The run was perfect, it makes him that little bit shorter than what you want, but in terms of pressure and myself and everyone involved and it is great to be in winning form going into these big races.

“We are just leaving the horse to be a happy horse, that is all we have done. Right from his first start he has looked very one paced but he has always tried and we have never changed the formula, it just seems to work.”

“I won't blow my own trumpet because I will probably get worst and best ride of the day,” Brown said. “It has been frustrating.

“He is obviously Sydney Cup bound, he has done a super job today, I just put him to sleep toward the tail of the field, got all the breaks, all the runs were presenting themselves.

“We probably got there too soon, he stargazed a little bit one he got there but obviously Sydney Cup bound he is going to be very competitive.”