The tasks assigned to Operative to this point of his career have not been particularly testing, but Chris Waller is hopeful they will prove a stepping stone to much bigger things for the high-priced son of Written Tycoon.
The $900,000 Inglis Easter yearling took his record to two wins from three starts with a convincing win in the Microphone Yearlings BM68 Handicap (1200m) at Wednesday’s Rosehill meeting.
The victory followed maiden success at Newcastle, with his only other start a debut fifth placing in a midweek event at Canterbury, and Waller said this path best suited the colt he hopes will measure up in better races in a few months’ time.
“He’s a decent horse,” Waller said. “He was just held up a little bit with wet weather etcetera, as a lot of the colts were last year, but we’re hoping he can make up for a bit of lost time.
“There’s not a lot between the maiden horses in Sydney, because it’s such a high grade and then to the Group races, so if you want to try and find an easier way with a bit of confidence it’s pretty tricky.
“This is a good time (to try it) and we often see the off-season horses match up in the autumn and that’s what we’ll be hoping with colts like this.”
Operative ($5.50) enjoyed a sweet run behind the leader before finding clear running midway down he straight to take control and score victory over Tashi ($10) by just under a length with Felix Majestic ($9.50) three quarters of a length away third.
James Mcdonald, who sported the Coolmore navy blue colours aboard Objective, endorsed him as a horse capable to performing well in better races.
“He’s a lovely type, he moves extremely well and he’s got a good attitude so there’s no real reason why he shouldn’t (go on with it), but it’s up to him now,” McDonald said.