Patrick Erin makes pleasing progress towards Cup

[Chief Stipe]

Chris Waller is expecting a solid showing from his New Zealand-bred stayer Patrick Erin in the Gr. 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick tomorrow, where he faces champion stablemate Winx.

The seven-year-old gelding finished fourth first-up against Winx in the Gr. 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick earlier this month and Waller was pleased with his run.

“His first-up run was excellent and he has improved in terms of his fitness since then,” Waller said.

“He showed first-up when over 1400 metres that he can hold a position through having some good barrier speed, so whilst I wouldn’t expect him to lead, he won’t be too far away.”

The Group One-winning son of Gallant Guru is on a path towards the Gr. 1 Sydney Cup in April, which will include a number of black-type assignments.

“He is tracking nicely towards a Sydney Cup and he will be going via the Gr. 3 Sky High Stakes third-up and fourth-up into the Gr. 1 BMW, and then the grand final for the preparation will be the Sydney Cup,” Waller said.

He will also line-up Karaka graduate Unforgotten in the Chipping Norton and believes she will improve off her fifth-placed run in the Apollo.

“She just got left a little flat footed through there being no pressure in the race first-up, so if that is the case on Saturday we would get rolling a little earlier on her to ensure that she is put into the race and she will certainly improve in terms of fitness,” Waller said.

“I think Unforgotten should be starting to improve second-up and up to the mile and not just be a walkover, obviously we have got a lot of respect for Happy Clapper as well.”

Meanwhile, earlier in the card Waller will line-up New Zealand-bred gallopers Melt and Zalatte in the Gr. 1 Surround Stakes.

Melt finished sixth last start in the Gr. 2 Light Fingers Stakes and Waller believes she has taken a lot of improvement from that race.

“She has taken improvement from her first-up run but she is another one that has drawn wide (barrier 14),” Waller said.

“She wanted to do things upside down first-up, so hopefully we can just get her to switch off and get her to come back and relax. Providing that is the case she will finish off well.”

Waller is excited about undefeated filly Zalatte’s potential heading into tomorrow.

“I am very excited by this horse, she follows a similar profile to Unforgotten through winning off season three-year-old races and now she is racing against the better horses and is obviously first up,” Waller said.

“I wouldn’t expect her to win against these sharper three-year-old fillies, but I would expect her to show that she is going to be competitive in races going forward over a bit further.

“From her good draw (barrier four) she is going to at least get a nice run and hopefully runs close to the first three. She will then progress through to the Vinery Stakes third-up.”

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