Sydney’s dual premiership winning trainer Chris Waller is hoping that Victoria Derby Day will finally see his honest mare Red Tracer break her Group 1 maiden status when she takes on a quality field of fellow females in the 2012 Myer Classic at Flemington Racecourse.
The five-year-old daughter of Dane Shadow was one of 16 hopefuls nominated for this year’s $500,000 Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m), a race that has this year drawn entries from five previous Group 1 winners.
Red Tracer meanwhile is yet to win at the highest level despite having been tested in five Group 1 assignments to date.
Red Tracer will look to break her Group 1 maiden status in the 2012 Myer Classic
Her best results so far included her third to fellow Myer Classic 2012 nominee Secret Admirer in last year’s Epsom Handicap in Sydney and her close fourth, when defeated only half a length by Pear Tart who is also nominated for Saturday’s feature in the Tattersall’s Tiara in Brisbane back in June.
In great form this time in Red Tracer won the Group 2 Premier Stakes (1200m) at Randwick first-up, her second Group 2 success adding to her Dane Ripper Stakes victory in the wet at Eagle Farm during the winter.
She then backed up on Caulfield Cup Day in Melbourne to finish a credible third to Myer Classic-bound duo Streama and Pear Tart in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m).
Third-up in the Myer Classic on Saturday, Waller hopes Red Tracer can be competitive again and improve on her 14th to Albert The Fat in last year’s Emirates Stakes which was her only previous run at Flemington.
“We are chasing that elusive Group 1,” he said.
“She has been close before but she will get her chance on Saturday.
“She was brilliant first-up and in her second-up run at Caulfield, she just looked as if she was looking for the mile.
“I think Flemington will suit her and expect her to run well.”
The 2012 Myer Classic field, as well as those for all the other Derby Day races, is due for release on Wednesday.
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