After a breakthrough win down under at Warwick Farm over the weekend, the Chris Waller-trained European import Permit has earned a possible shot at Group glory in the 2011 Summer Cup at Rosehill this Boxing Day.
Chris Waller could aim Permit for the 2012 Sydney Cup next April
Having kicked off their career in France, Dansili gelding Permit first came to Australia in early 2010 joining the Victorian operation of Michael Moroney.
Under Moroney Permit raced five times from April through until July of this year, their best result being a fifth over 3100 metres on a Heavy (9) track at Sandown.
Transferred to Waller’s Rosehill base during the spring, the four-year-old has raced far more impressively in their two most recent runs.
Debuting for Waller on November 26 they finished a close second to Ashlee’s Jewel at Canterbury over 1900 metres, Permit enjoying the sting out of the Slow (7) track, before their last-start win on Saturday.
Despite a Good rated course, Permit was able to get the better of a class field and beat home Tim Martin’s Scouting Wide by nearly two lengths in a Benchmark 80 over 2200 metres.
“Today was a step-up to see where he was at,” Waller said on Saturday.
“He trialled well but he needed a confidence win.”
Waller hopes to run Permit next at Rosehill’s Boxing Day meeting on December 26 in the $125,000 Group 3 Summer Cup (2400m), but whether this eventuates depends on the weight they are allocated by the handicapper.
“He will be nominated for the Summer Cup but whether he runs will depend on whether he gets a fair weight,” Waller said.
“If he goes up too much then he won’t run.”
There is also a chance that should Permit continue to run well they will be aimed at the 2012 Sydney Cup, a race Waller took out with Stand To Gain this year.
The $500,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) is scheduled for Royal Randwick on April 4, 2012.
Another galloper on-track for a Summer Cup 2011 start is Saturday’s runner-up Scouting Wide.
The veteran Zabeel seven-year-old may have been beaten one and three quarter lengths, but it was a brave effort considering they once again carried a hefty weight, this time 61.5kg.
With Scouting Wide likely to go back to around 56.5kg for the Summer Cup, Martin is confident they are looking good to break a 19-month drought, the galloper last seen in the winner’s stall when taking out the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2400m) at Rosehill back in May last year.
“He’ll drop a good stone, I reckon he’ll carry about 56 and a half in the Summer Cup,” Martin said.
“Jim Cassidy goes on and he is the sort of horse Cassidy will suit.
“The horse likes Rosehill too.”
Cassidy rode Scouting Wide for their opening two career starts to finish third and second at Randwick and Canterbury respectively back in early 2008, but hasn’t been on them under race conditions since.
The 2011 Summer Cup nominations are due to be taken by Racing NSW on Tuesday before the final field is released on Thursday.
For the hottest odds on the showdown, as well as all the other Boxing Day races, head to Luxbet and open an account with Australia’s No. 1 online bookie.
Remember to quote the exclusive promotional code BONUSBET if you are signing up and depositing with Luxbet for the first time to have your initial deposit matched dollar for dollar as a generous bonus bet valued up to $400!
