First four in Group Three race for Waller

Just to reinforce Winx isn’t the only star in Chris Waller’s stable, four of the trainer’s staying prospects have filled the first four placings in the lead-up race to the Group One Metropolitan Handicap.

Libran ($26) came out on top in Saturday’s Group Three Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) with Antonio Giuseppe ($5) second, Life Less Ordinary ($2.90 fav) third and veteran Who Shot Thebarman ($51) fourth.

With the hype of Winx’s 20th straight win earlier in the afternoon behind him and struggling to find his voice after a bout of the flu, Waller said the four were all a vital part of his establishment.

“Wet tracks cost Libran in his last preparation so he just went missing in the autumn,” Waller said.

“He’s on good tracks now and ran a good race first-up.

“Antonio Giuseppe is on target but he was a bit soft the last 100 metres as was Life Less Ordinary.

“Who Shot Thebarman went outstanding. The old boy has still got a bit left in the tank yet.

“Horses like him are so important to racing and to our stable. We are proud as punch of him.”

While the Metropolitan in two weeks is the obvious target, Waller said nine-year-old Who Shot Thebarman could be suited to the revamped St Leger (2600m) on Octber 14.

“That’s an interesting race for a horse like him,” he said.

The Leger will be run under set weights with penalties for horses which have won a Group One or Group Two race since January 2016, neither of which applies to Who Shot Thebarman whose last win was in the 2015 Zipping Classic.