New Leader in NZB Spring WFA Championship

A new leader has emerged in the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring WFA Championship at Caulfield with Foreteller (Dansili) victorious in the Group 1 A$400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) in a thrilling finish on Saturday.

Foreteller (inside) successful in the Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

Entering the race on four points thanks to an eye-catching fourth in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes, Foreteller’s victory earned him 10 points in the Championship to shoot him to the top of the standings.

The Chris Waller trained galloper has been running on strongly in his first two starts this campaign and was in the right place to land his third Group 1 victory on Saturday.

Racing handier than usual for rider Glen Boss, Foreteller was within striking distance at the top of the straight with leader Crackerjack King (Shamardal) putting his foot down at the 800m. The fast tempo suited Foreteller and he dashed to the front inside 100m and held off the fast finishing Happy Trails (Good Journey) with Crackerjack King holding third.

“He is very honest horse who always tries,” described Justine Hales, stable foreperson for Chris Waller. “He caught Happy Trails out of the side of his eye and he kept trying.”

Saturday’s victory was Foreteller’s 11th win in his career which has yielded A$1,861,771 in prizemoney. The son of Irish-bred Dansili started his career in the United Kingdom before relocating to Australia. He is owned down under by G G Ltd, Mr I Bruce, Mr F W Cook, Mr D M Ackery, Mr B L Mathieson, Mr R Smith, Mr K J Hunt, Mr B P Bradley, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd & Mrs C M Cook.

With his win on the weekend, Foreteller earned 10 points in the NZB Spring WFA Championship and sits at the top of the leaderboard on 14 points. Happy Trails received 8 points taking his tally to 9 points with Crackerjack King picking up his first points in the Championship, earning six points for third. Points are awarded back to eighth in all four legs of the Championship.

Foreteller is clear by three points over Star Rolling (Starcraft) who is on 11 points, and in turn is one point clear of Dissident (Sebring) on 10 points. The final leg of the NZB Spring WFA Championship is the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes on 11 October.

To view the current leaderboard for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Spring WFA Championship at Caulfield, click here.