He is a colt that cost $2.25 million at Inglis Easter Yearling Sales last year but the Chris Waller-prepared two-year-old Congregation ($5.50) is starting to repay his connections with a narrow victory at Rosehill Gardens.
A son of champion sire Snitzel out of the dual-Group One winning mare Response, the two-year-old managed to hold off stablemate and race favourite Tutta La Vita ($1.75F) by a nose on the line with Stand Aside ($4.20) a further three lengths back in third place. The win now makes it two from as many attempts in the space of ten days.
Whilst favourite backers would have been disappointed to miss out in the close photo, Waller believes both horses have a bigger fish to fry.
“I think both connections have got really nice horses,” Waller said.
“I think the filly (Tutta La Vita) will win a really good race, a real Flight Stakes type of horse.
“And Congregation, he’s just a lovely colt that keeps on improving. He’s just a baby really in comparison to where he’ll end up.
“Both have got really exciting futures.”
After jumping with them from barrier six, jockey Kerrin Mcevoy managed to slot into a perfect run in transit sitting one out one back before letting down the centre of the track. Waller was appreciative of McEvoy’s steer as well as the grounding it will give his galloper for future campaigns.
“It was a clever ride from Kerrin, it wasn’t an easy draw,” Waller said.
“He got into a beautiful position and taught him to be a race horse. That’s the benefit of the good autumn we’re having, we’re seeing these horses running on good tracks.
“It’s really going to help them for the spring.”
Hoop McEvoy was equally bullish about the future for his mount and was also grateful for the drier surface than we’ve had in previous autumns.
“He’s still learning the caper,” McEvoy said.
“He’s two from two now. Chris was saying before the race (it was a) quick turnaround from his first win, but given he’s done so well and we’re getting nice ground here now without too much rain.
“He’s exciting and the best is still ahead of him. He’s going to be much better once the penny fully drops.”