The Lord Mayor salutes in Gold Coast Cup

The Lord Mayor is on a Brisbane Cup trail after outstaying his rivals in the Gold Coast Cup.

The Gold Coast Cup is a new race on the Hollindale Stakes card but the result was a familiar one.

Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable has been dominating staying races in Queensland and the trend continued when the The Lord Mayor ($3.30) beat his stablemate Vaucluse Bay ($4) by a length with 1-1/4 lengths to Sir Barnabus ($9) in third in the Cup.

It was Waller’s 51st Queensland winner this season and his 40th in the metropolitan area making him third on the city premiership.

He is now one off bringing up 100 winners in the state since his Gold Coast operation opened 22 months ago.

About 70 per cent those wins have been in staying and 1600m races.

Waller said he was pleased with the way the Gold Coast stable had operated but there were no plans to expand it.

“We have been able to rejuvenate some horses and others have found their right level away from Sydney. But why tamper with something which is working. Paul (manager Shailer) and the team ae doing a great job,” Waller said.

He said The Lord Mayor would probably head towards the Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 8.

“The Lord Mayor ran in the New Zealand and Australian Derbies last season and didn’t have much luck. He can chase some black-type up here,” he said.