Wategos goes back-to-back with dominant Rosehill win

Wategos made it back-to-back wins with a bold all-the-way win at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Just seconds before the All Blacks stole another famous Bledisloe Cup win, a pair of Kiwis products were playing a starring role at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Kiwi-born trainer Bjorn Baker and compatriot Jason Collett hit the target as Wategos scored in impressive fashion in the Jockey Celebration Day Benchmark 78 Handicap (1350).

It came mere moments before the All Blacks snared another last gasp victory against the Wallabies across the ditch.

But Wategos triumph proved far more convincing.

The bold frontrunner was way too hard to run down when bringing up consecutive Saturday wins in the most dominant of fashion.

A super front running ride from Jason Collett sees Wategos go back-to-back for @BBakerRacing. ???????? pic.twitter.com/AXk12IJc0k

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2023

"Wategos is going absolutely super and it was a good ride from Jason," Baker said.

"He led and dominated. It worked out super.

"I've always thought he was a really nice horse and it's been preparation he was starting to put it together so we have got plenty of options for him which is very exciting."

Wategos was a clear leader throughout much of the race and kicked away at the 300m mark as Collett took him through his gears.

The son of Capitalist, a $3.60 chance in the betting, had cleared out by 2¾ lengths at the winning post with John O'Shea's King Of Naples ($3.40) holding out Chris Waller's For Victory ($26) for the minor placings.

"Tough isn't he and he's got that great racing pattern," Collett said.

"He can put himself on speed and from the top of the straight there he just keep building.

"It was lonely in front."

Wategos has built a sensational winning record early in his five-year-old season with six victories from 15 starts and Baker believes there is more to come.

Trainer Bjorn Baker was full of praise for Jason Collett's frontrunning ride on Wategos. Picture: Getty Images

"We know even up to a mile he is going to be strong so this was a really, really good win," Baker said.

"I don't know exactly what we will do with him now but we will have to have a good think."

Earlier, Tyler Schiller earned the plaudits from co-trainer Michael Hawkes when producing a carbon copy ride to boot home Petulant for another city win.

Schiller got the best out of Petulant at the same track and trip a fortnight ago and delivered a similarly perfect steer from just off the speed to guide the John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes mare home.

"I've got to give Tyler a bit of credit here," Hawkes said.

"He gave her a carbon copy ride like he did last start, setting outside the horse in the yellow and making her work a little bit.

"That was probably the key to get her relaxed.

"She probably got on the bit around the 600m but the part I loved the most from Tyler was he was vigilant in waiting to get her balanced.

The @HawkesRacing-trained Petulant holds off the favourite Waverider Buoy and goes back-to-back, giving @G1TySchil a double! pic.twitter.com/qmqqIriKv1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2023

"He popped her out with about with about 300m to go and she kicked and found the line."

Petulant ($5.50) held off the Chris Waller-trained Waverider Buoy ($2.25 fav) to salute by a short-neck while the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-conditioned Lovero ($5.50) was a long-neck back in third.

The Hawkes' daughter of Starspangledbanner has now won three of her past four starts in town with the stable hoping she can continue that winning run.

"Honestly these mares, when they are in form you have to keep going," Hawkes said.

"It's back-to-back wins now in Saturday grade. We were just striving to get a city win to be fair, which she did this preparation at Canterbury.

"Grant Briscoe and the team have been very patient owners.

"They left us do what we've needed to do and it's very rewarding when you can get a mare in-form like this."

It was a second winner of the day for Schiller, who is in his first week as a senior rider and had earlier saluted on the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Verona.