Chris Waller’s in-form European import Permit could be aimed at the Sydney Cup 2012 this autumn after recoding another eye-catching city win at Rosehill over the weekend.
Chris Waller could target a second straight Sydney Cup win this time with Permit
The Dansili five-year-old posted just their second career victory when carrying a hefty 59kg with Hugh Bowman aboard to put three-quarters of a length on Planetarium in the $70,000 Action Business Coach Handicap (2400m) on Saturday.
It was a gutsy performance by the winner who found themselves caught back behind their rivals on the straight before pushing clear to reel them in over the final 150 metres and the line strongly
The win followed Permit’s smart victory over Scouting Wide in a Benchmark 80 over 2200 metres at Warwick Farm back on December 17 which was their debut career success.
Despite the quality of their opposition on Saturday being only average, Bowman saw enough in Permit’s run to suggest they could be a serious carnival contender.
“It was moderate opposition today but I would think he could be up to genuine top-class handicaps over autumn,” he said.
While as yet untested at stakes level in Australia, Permit could now be prepared for one of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival’s most prestigious events, the $500,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 28.
“I’m not quite sure what Chris will do but hopefully he’ll head towards the autumn,” Waller’s stable foreman Peter Muscutt said.
“A race like the Sydney Cup and things like that might well be his target.”
Waller certainly knows how to turn an ex-European into a Sydney Cup winner having taken out the iconic two-mile feature last year with his Hawk Wing gelding Stand To Gain.
Like Stand To Gain, Permit started their career racing in Europe before being sent to Australia.
They first arrived down under in early 2011 when prepared by Michael Moroney.
Under Moroney they started five times in Melbourne, but they were well beaten on each occasion with their best result being a fifth over 3100 meters on a Heavy (9) track at Sandown in July.
Following that run they went to Sydney joining Waller’s Rosehill-based operation and their three runs under Waller have been much improved with a second at Canterbury over 1900 metres on November 26 followed by their back-to-back wins.
Lightly-raced for their age having started just eight times, Permit has raced over a comparative distance to the Sydney Cup three times before.
The first two being at Group level in France over 3016 metres in September and October of 2010 before their final run for Moroney.
Get all the latest Sydney autumn racing updates including those for the 2012 Sydney Cup right here at Races.com.au.
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