Winning Horse: Runaway (Aus)

6yoR Manhattan Rain (Aus) - Catshaan (Aus)(Catrail (USA))

39 starts - 7 wins 6 seconds 3 thirds 3 fourths $725220

Black Type Wins

1st G3 Geelong Bet365 Geelong Cup 2400m (2018)

1st LR Flemington Vrc St Leger 2800m (2018)

Black Type Placings

3rd G1 Morphettville Ubet South Australian Derby 2500m (2018)

Other Wins

1st Pakenham Ecycle Solutions 1Jw Hrdl 3200m (2020)

1st Warrnambool Nevcon Steel Mdn Hrdl 3230m (2020)

1st Geelong Iga Liquor (Bm64) 2218m (2018)

1st Canterbury Ascot Restaurant Mdn Hcp 1550m (2017)

Race Result:

1st: Runaway (Damien Oliver/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) - $31

2nd: Sikorsky (Daniel Stackhouse/Tom Debernig & Ben Hayes) - $7
3rd: Takumi (Mark Zahra/Aaron Purcell) - $8

Winning Time: 2:03.52 Last 600m: 35.48

Margins: 1L x ¾L

Winning Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (rep by Alva Predergast)

“We were pretty confident coming into the run. His work has been very strong over the last couple of weeks. On paper his form didn’t look very good but he hasn’t had any luck in his runs. We were pretty confident coming in today.

“The gear change - blinkers on - and we thought he looked ready to go. He’s been very competitive over the jumps last preparation but the older her gets the better he seems to be getting, so we had to start somewhere to get him fit for the jumps this time but Gai has mentioned that she has a nomination in for the Sydney Cup so after that I think it will be all systems go for that.”

Alva’s association with the stable: “I’ve been with them about 14 months now. We’re having a little bit of luck lately. Long may it last.

“I come from County Kildare in Ireland and I came over about eight years ago for three weeks.”

Winning Jockey: Damien Oliver

“He was the class horse in the race - he is a Geelong Cup winner. I know he’s been over hurdles since, but he’s always been a bit of a class horse and back to an 84-rater (race) it wasn’t the strongest race.

“He looked to trial well with the blinkers on so if he showed his best form he was the best horse in the race. It was my first time on the horse and he hasn’t been leaving the gates well sometimes and I wasn’t sure if I’d ride him forward or back.

“Gai gave me an open book on riding him and said just ride him as he jumps. I thought there was enough pace to ride him quiet and I was really happy the way he zipped through when he got the runs. He quickened up really nicely.”

Calvin McEvoy on unplaced favourite Coolth: “Disappointing on face value. Probably looking for the step up in trip now. We stayed at the 2000 metres, trained him really sharp and Jye said he hit the same flat spot he did last start but just didn’t come out of it today. Settled better, more genuine tempo, better horses today - a few factors. But he might be looking for a step up in trip or just might go to the paddock.”

Also on Hey Doc: “He’s trialling on Monday at Avoca. He’s really good. We’re not making any decision (for Saturday) until he trials on Monday but I’m thinking possibly the Bob Hoysted (at Flemington) first-up but he’ll get a lot of weight. Just thinking about how we get him to the William Reid second-up. That’s what I want to do.”

** FUTURITY NEXT SATURDAY **

Shane Nichols on Streets Of Avalon: “He’s done exceptionally well since the CF Orr. Just keeping an eye on the noms at the moment. It looks like it might be a smaller field. In what we think the entries will be it doesn't look like there’ll be an obvious leader. He’ll present in good shape, be fit and well and he’ll run along in good time.

Is he better than ever: “He seems to be. That was a genuinely good win in a Group 1 last start and the Australia Stakes was outstanding. We did have him more forward this time than what he had been. He’s only going to have a short prep but he is racing really well and we couldn’t be happier with him. If we draw a gate, bring it on.”

** MAHER/EUSTACE RUNNERS NEXT SATURDAY - DAVE EUSTACE **

Enthaar - Blue Diamond - can she be better than last time: “Definitely. She’s good. No doubt she’s improved from her run. She’ll improve again going a little bit further. She’s been around for a long time and only had the one trial so we definitely think she’s improved.

Anders - Oakleigh Plate: “First-up into it and hopefully he gets a run which we think he will. We’ve done some homework there. I think it’s an ideal race for him. He had a really muddling second-half to his prep last time. It just didn’t pan out. He’s trialled well and all the signs at home are that he’s an out-and-out speed horse, so he’s going into a race that you’ve got to be like that to win it. Oakleigh PLate, down in the weights, 1100 metres at Caulfield, a drop of rain would be really nice, too. “

Asked if they got any flak over Sir Dragonet: “Not really. The only people we’re worried about is the ownership group and we wouldn’t have run if it wasn’t a decision that they were happy with. You’ve got to try things, it didn’t work and we’re not losing any sleep over it. We learnt a lot and we move on. He’ll go straight into the Australian Cup or the All-Star Mile.”