Auerbach ready to step up to open company

The Chris Waller-trained Auerbach gets his chance in open company when he runs at Eagle Farm.

In-form gelding Auerbach has taken to life in Queensland and gets his chance in open company when he runs at Eagle Farm.

The gelding is the perfect advertisement for Chris Waller’s decision to open a Gold Coast stable two years ago to accommodate horses just below Sydney or Melbourne quality.

Waller believed the stable would more than pay its way and Auerbach runs in Saturday’s Ascot Plazza Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Auerbach had six trials for six wins early in his career but took five starts before winning a Wyong maiden in January last year.

After three more unplaced runs in NSW, Auerbach was sent north to continue his career in February last year.

He has now won four races and been minor placed nine times, adding about $160,000 to his prize money.

It has eclipsed the $150,000 Auerbach brought at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Since returning from a spell Auerbach has been in the best form of his career running second to Snitch in an open handicap before winning a benchmark 85 race two weeks ago.

Both those runs were at Doomben but Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer thinks the gelding will have no trouble at Eagle Farm over 1400m.

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“He has won three times at 1400 metres and his only try at the distance at Eagle Farm he was drawn right off the track,” Shailer said.

“So I can’t see the track and distance being any problems for him.”

Shailer said he believed the form around Auerbach would be a good guide in coming weeks.

“He ran second to Snitch two runs back and they are talking about that horse as a chance in black-type races in the summer,” he said.

“Third in that race was Magnufighter who won the main race at Doomben last week.

“Then when Auerbach won his last start he beat another of our horses, The Avenger, who came out and won in Sydney last Saturday.

“It is a pretty good form line for Saturday’s race.”

Auerbach was an acceptor for a race at Doomben last Saturday but was a race morning scratching.

“There was nothing wrong with him we just decided to give him an extra week,” Shailer said.

“As it turned out another of our horses Impasse got beaten a nose in the race.”