Brisbane Carnival Possible for Fastnet Colt

The Chris Waller stable won the Group II BRC Champagne Stakes last Saturday at Doomben with well bred colt Tangled and produced another possible Brisbane Carnival contender at Warwick Farm on Wednesday in the shape of well-bred  colt Sambro (2c Fastnet Rock x Eau de Joie, by Encosta de Lago). Fourth at his first two runs on wet ground, he showed good improvement last start when beaten narrowly into third at Warwick Farm on a better surface. Partnered by Hugh Bowman and stepped up to 1400 metres for the first time on Wednesday, Sambro finished powerfully to score a dominant win over blue-blooded High Chaparral colt Icon of Dubai, the half-brother to dual Group I winner Pride of Dubai.

Sambro is clearly improving with racing and stakes goals are on the horizon.

“It’s just been a matter of him putting it altogether and now he’s done that,” said Chris Waller. “He put the writing on the wall last start and showed a really good turn of foot today.” Queensland is an option for Sambro, who Waller likened to his former Group I winner Press Statement, who won the Group I BRC JJ Atkins at his first run in Brisbane. “There’s a 1400 metre race in Sydney on the same day as the Sire’s Produce (Group II), so we might run in that and then go to Brisbane. That might be his path,” Waller said. Sambro was a $420,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Baramul Stud draft for Chris Waller Racing and runs for a syndicate of stable clients. He is the third winner from stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Eau de Joie, a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Polar Success.

Sambro continues a very good season for champion sire Fastnet Rock with his Aussie two year-olds who include Group I winner Catchy, Group II winner Shoals, Group III winner Formality and stakes-winner Merchant Navy.