Fresh from recording his first Australian win, Buckaroo is in line to be given the chance to chase a maiden Group 1 victory in this Saturday’s $750,000 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.
The 1800-metre weight-for-age event will be run three weeks after Buckaroo took out the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, when the six-year-old relished racing in a more forward position.
It was just his second start as a gelding, following an eighth placing in the Winx Stakes (1400m), and Waller hopes it proves the making of him.
“It was probably what he needed, just to spark him up a little bit and switch him on,” Waller said.
“Since being gelded he’s a different horse all round, but he needed to show it on raceday, so it was good to see him do that.”
Buckaroo was one of four Underwood Stakes entries for Waller, who also has Fangirl, Atishu and Kovalica nominated and the race that is also likely to include Place Du Carrousel, Fawkner Park and Pericles.
Mr Brightside has also been entered with Lindsay Park tossing up whether to back-up last Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes winner or wait until the following weekend’s $500,000 Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m).
A decision on whether Atishu, who was among the Makybe Diva Stakes beaten brigade, backs up will be made closer to acceptance time, while Fangirl is expected to run at Randwick in Saturday’s $1m 7 Stakes (1600m).
The Underwood Stakes will be Buckaroo’s first Victorian start for Waller, who took over responsibility for the son of Fastnet Rock after last year’s spring, where he ran seventh in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) and fifth in the Champions Stakes (2000m) for Jospeh O’Brien.
“He’s pretty well travelled horse so I don’t think it will be too much trouble,” Waller said of his first trip to Caulfield.
Also heading to Caulfield for the first time will be Private Life, who runs in the $300,000 Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
The $650,000 Magic Millions yearling, who is by Snitzel out of multiple Group 1 placegetter Aliyana Tilde, has won his past two starts and will be tested at Black Type level for the first time.
“He’s won two races out of three, he’s won his last two, and he’s a well-bred colt who goes pretty good,” Waller said.