Higher Ground hits new heights in style

Jockey Glyn Schofield rides the Chris Waller-trained Higher Ground to victory at Canterbury.

Higher Ground has had no issues with a step up in trip as his encouraging maiden preparation continued at Canterbury.

The Chris Waller-trained colt made light work of a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1900m) to boost his record to two wins from five starts.

After marking time behind pace-setter Chain Of Fools, Higher Ground ($2.70) and Glyn Schofield loomed up on the home straight and pulled away to score by four lengths.

Higher Ground started out in October over 1300m and gradually worked up in distance until Wednesday’s jump from a 1550m assignment at his previous start at the same track.

“I think he’s got a bright future over the middle distance and longer distance races,” Waller said.

“He’s the right age to make the most of it. He’s got all the attributes of a decent horse. He might go to a new level.”

Chain Of Fools, the $2.60 favourite, ran second and Higher Ground’s stablemate Velocita ($3.40) was a short half-head third.

Velocita might have nabbed Chain Of Fools but wobbled on the home turn to lose momentum.

“She just got a bit lost. She’s still a bit green,” Waller said.