Boilover as Delectation wins G1 Darley Classic

The odds for Saturday’s G1 Darley Classic suggested the week’s sprint feature was expected to be a walkover for last season’s G1 T J Smith scorer Chautauqua, but longshot Delectation ran him down on the line to earn his first Group 1 and provide another for trainer Chris Waller. Second to stablemate Brazen Beau (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) in this carnival’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. for 3-year-olds over the same

trip last year, Delectation, like Chautauqua, was in action at The Championships in April. However, his win in the G2 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint–his first stakes score–took second fiddle to that festival’s star-studded Group 1 action. Given six weeks’ rest after that breakthrough score, Delectation finished third in Doomben’s Listed Ascot H. over this trip and was ninth when trying Group 1 company again in the G1 Stradbroke H. two weeks later. Sixth on his 4-year-old debut in the G2 The Shorts S. Sept. 19, Delectation was a length behind Chautauqua in the G2 Gilgai S. over this track and trip Oct. 4 and entered this off a week’s rest, having finished fourth in the G2 Tab.com.au S. here last Saturday. Delectation settled on the fence, about four lengths off the lead, as sprint veteran Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) set the early tempo here, with Chautauqua taking up his customary position near the back of the pack, to Delectation’s outside and about 1 1/2 lengths behind. While Chautauqua moved to the middle of the track to make his bid on the outside, Delectation split runners in tandem. The top four finishers were separated by no more than a head approaching the 50 meter mark and just over a half-length separated them at the line.

“I’m thrilled the horse backed up and managed to overcome all those world-class sprinters,” said trainer Chris Waller, who then suggested his newest star could be bound for England next June. “I want to get back to Ascot, we had an amazing trip there [with Brazen Beau],” he said.

“That’s the beauty of horses,” Waller added. “It can take you a long way, whether it be England, Hong Kong or wherever, but it’s good to win at home just as much as anywhere.”

Jockey James McDonald, who was winning his first Group 1 at the carnival on its final day, added, “It’s great to ride a very good, straight horse like this, and of course get a massive Group 1 like today.”

Delectation’s dam, Grace and Power, was a listed winner in the U.S. and was second in the GI Hollywood Starlet S. She was purchased by agent Steven Brem for $700,000 while in foal to Giant’s Causeway at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The Giant’s Causeway filly she was carrying, later named Pocket Power (Aus), was born in Australia and was, like her younger brother, a winner over a mile. Delectation is Grace and Power’s second foal. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly named Gracie’s Lass (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}); a yearling filly by Congrats and her colt foal by Exceed and Excel died this year. Delectation’s fourth dam, Lady Winborne (Secretariat), is a half-sister to French champion and Classic winner Allez France, and it is also the family of GI Personal Ensign winner Icon Project (Empire Maker).

Saturday, Flemington, Australia
DARLEY CLASSIC-G1, A$1,002,500, VRC, 11-7, Open WFA, 1200mT, 1:10.07, Soft.
1–&DELECTATION, 58.5, g, 4, by Shamardal (USA)
1st Dam: Grace and Power (USA) (SW & GISP-US, $249,361), by More Than Ready (USA)
2nd Dam: Lady in Power (USA), by Defensive Play (USA)
3rd Dam: Lady Lady (USA), by Little Current (USA)
(A$250,000 Ylg 2013 WI Sydney Easter Yearling Sale) O-C C Lai;
B-Mr GJ Perry NSW; T-C J Waller; J-J B Mc Donald; A$602,500.
Lifetime Record: 20-5-5-2, A$1,423,775. Werk Nick Rating:
A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Chautauqua, 58.5, g, 5, Encosta de Lago–Lovely Jubly, by
Lion Hunter. O-R & C Legh Racing (Mgrs: R & Mrs C Legh), G P I
Racing (Mgr: G Ingham), Gurners Bloodstock (Mgr: M A
Ramsden), G Pulitano, S W Kay, Ms M A Keating, Wright
Racing (Mgrs: P & R Wrigh; B-Woodbury Pty Ltd NSW; T-M, W
& J Hawkes; J-D Dunn; A$180,000.
3–Terravista, 58.5, g, 6, Captain Rio (GB)–Parfore (NZ), by Gold
Brose. O-N B Couper, A J Rix, G J Robinson, T M Ungar, I A
McKinnon, I G Cornell, Mrs L M Blundell, P W Callaghan, P J
Trowbridge & Ms J M Barnier; B-Mr M Ryan NSW; T-Joseph
Pride; J-J Bowman; A$90,000.
Margins: 0.1 len, 0.2 len, 0.6 len. Odds: 13.00, 0.90, 8.50.
Also Ran: Buffering, Srikandi, Lumosty, Flamberge, Tiger Tees (NZ), Boban. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.