New Universe still unbeaten in Australia

The sky could be the limit for New Universe, and so to are sprint distances as enticements like The Everest loom on the horizon.

A former New Zealand-based gelding, the three-year-old continued his unbeaten run in Sydney with a withering burst carrying him to the line a neck clear of Vienna Romance ($26) in the Saintly Hall Of Fame Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill.

Chris Waller took over training New Universe after he ran fifth in Auckland on Boxing Day, and the $1.80 pre-race favourite underlined his class with his fourth win in five starts.

“He’s got plenty of ability and he’ll got on to bigger and better things. He’s far better than a winter grade Saturday horse,” Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said.

New Universe is among the nominations for the Group One $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10 but Duckworth all but ruled out a jump up in class, and distance.

“There’s plenty plenty of prize money to be won between now and stepping up into Group One company,” Duckworth said, noting the inaugural $10 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.

“With The Everest and races like that we want to encourage our horses to be sprinters,” he said.

Tommy Berry guided New Universe to victory on her Australian debut at Rosehill over 1200m a fortnight ago, and was even more impressed despite despite an uncomfortable ride on Saturday.

“It was a bigger win than the last start because he had to handle a track (soft 5) he wasn’t really suited by,” Berry said.

“He gave me a lot better feel last start, he gave me the feel of a very good horse.

“This time he wasn’t comfortable so to rattle off like he did and win with authority …. it was a very good win.”

Memes ($5.50) was third after a photo finish revealed Vienna Romance shaded her by a nose.