Watermans Bay does it for WA at the odds

Perth Turf Talk | Metropolitan Racing | Sat 4 April, 2015

Perth galloper Watermans Bay managed to shrug off a disappointing effort in his main autumn target to claim Saturday’s Group III Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.

Watermans Bay was an unlucky second in the Group I Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in his home town last November, which prompted connections to aim him at last month’s Group I Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Watermans Bay failed to beat a runner home in the Newmarket Handicap, leaving trainer Dan Morton three weeks to get the gelding back to his best for the Victoria Handicap.

"He came in today after a disappointing effort last start after everything went pear-shaped in that run,” Morton said.

"He was working super going into the Newmarket but we just had to put him back together for this.

"He just had a couple of little issues so we didn’t overtax him but luckily enough had a lot of residual fitness, which we were counting on, and he got the job done.”

Sistine Demon set the speed in his bid to win back-to-back editions of the Victoria Handicap and looked to have eked out a winning break with 100m.

However a typically patient Steven Arnold brought Watermans Bay with a powerful run down the centre of the track to beat The Peak by a short neck while Sistine Demon was a nose away third.

"He finishes off his race super when he’s right,” Morton said. "He had a good run and finished off very strongly.”

Morton said he would consult the owners before deciding Watermans Bay’s immediate future but he wanted to send the six-year-old to the spelling paddock.

Another Perth-owned galloper, the three-year-old Disposition was caught wide in the middle stages of the Victoria Handicap before working home to finish fourth as a $2.35 favourite.

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