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News

Night’s Watch Second in the G1 Toorak

Chris Waller-trained Night’s Watch was close to seeing the stars align in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap on Saturday, running on gamely to finish second to Sydney raider and Japanese-bred Fierce Impact.

The son of Redwood went into the race as his third run back from a spell (and since joining Chris Waller). Night’s Watch had his first run for the Waller stable when he finished an unlucky fifth over 1400m at Caulfield when badly inconvenienced over the final 400m and only beaten 1.7 lengths by Age of Chivalry. The gelding went to Flemington two weeks later in the Group 1 Makybe Diva over 1600m at Weight-for-Age and again finished off well for ninth beaten just 3.6 lengths behind Gatting, Mystic Journey, and Mr Quickie.

The original intention had been to run Night’s Watch in the Turnbull stakes over 2000m the previous Saturday at Flemington but when analysing his previous form, it was felt Night’s Watch had good form at 1600m and his course stats at Caulfield were impressive, allowing the decision to be made to keep him for the Toorak Handicap Group 1.

Another factor in Night’s Watch favour was the booking for James McDonald who has been in exceptional form of late, riding four winners at Randwick the previous weekend, including the Breeder’s Plate Gr.3 (Global Quest), Flight Stakes Gr.1 (Funstar), Hill Stakes Gr.2 (Verry Ellegant) and a narrow defeat in the Epsom Handicap Gr.1 upon Te Akau Shark.

Post-race in the Toorak, James McDonald was left to rue a lack of early speed from Night’s Watch after the galloper finished a frustrating second. McDonald said Night’s Watch, who was slow to begin and settled near last before pinching inside runs over the final 300m, had a racing style that was conducive to heartbreak for both connections and punters.

Night’s Watch started the $7 equal favourite and while he finished powerfully, he could only get within two lengths of Fierce Impact.

“He ran super but he’s not going to win Group 1 races by missing the kick like he does,” McDonald said.

“He was very slow away, he never mustered ground and he finished with a wet sail but it was all too late.”

 

A very promising son of Redwood, we hope to see Night’s Watch gain his well earned Group 1 win this spring!

 

To view Night’s Watch in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, please CLICK HERE.