A decade after guiding Winx to victory in the Phar Lap Stakes, jockey Tommy Berry has claimed the race once again, with Lazzura adding another triumph to champion trainer Chris Waller’s incredible record in the Group 2 event at Rosehill.

Opting to bypass Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Classic to compete in the Phar Lap (1500m) for three-year-olds, Lazzura ($4) settled outside the leader before sprinting clear to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Wonder Boy ($5), with her stablemate Declichy Boulevard ($2.35 bookies favourite) finishing third, a further three-quarters of a length behind.

This win marked Waller’s eighth Phar Lap Stakes victory in the last 11 runnings, all of which have been secured by fillies.

Champion Winx initiated the string of Phar Lap Stakes wins for Waller in 2015, followed by Foxplay (2017), Unforgotten (2018), Verry Elleegant (2019), Funstar (2020), Hungry Heart (2021), Zougotcha (2023), and now Lazzura.

Lazzura had previously come up against quality fillies like Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot in her earlier starts this campaign, finishing fourth and third respectively. However, without those two fillies in the race on Saturday, Lazzura was able to claim her first Group-race victory, having previously won a Listed race at Scone as a two-year-old last year.

“When Lady Shenandoah was scratched, I knew this was her race,” Berry said.

“I won this race 10 years ago on Winx, so it was nice to win it today on a lovely filly for a great ownership group.

“We just kept running into a couple of fillies that were just too good for her, that’s plain and simple.

“But she had her time in the sun today.”

Meanwhile, star filly Lady Shenandoah, who was initially an acceptor for the Phar Lap, ran in the Coolmore Classic later in the afternoon, where she secured her third Group 1 win.

Lazzura was one of four fillies from Waller’s stable in the Phar Lap, alongside third-place finisher Declichy Boulevard, Movin Out (fourth), and Real Class (seventh).

Waller praised Berry for taking luck out of the equation by settling outside the leader, turning the race into a sit-and-sprint.

“She’s done a great job, showing fantastic acceleration and backing up some good form from her previous two runs behind top fillies,” Waller said.

Waller mentioned that he would discuss Lazzura’s next target with her connections, with the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick next month an attractive option.

“It’s still four weeks away, but we’ve won that race with a three-year-old before, and keeping a horse fresh,” Waller said.

“Today’s a really hot day, so it might take a little bit out of them as well. I’ll have a chat with the owners, but I’d be leaning towards that.”

Reflecting on his eighth win in the Phar Lap Stakes, Waller explained that the race served as an important stepping stone for horses looking ahead.

“A good example is this filly,” Waller said.

“She’s been third behind some very good fillies throughout her career and particularly in this preparation. It just gives her a little bit of confidence to say, ‘Okay, I can go out there and do it myself.’

“So that’s how I see the race. It’s a race that says, ‘Okay, I’ve had a step back from Group 1 level, and now I’ve got a chance to do it myself, and I’ve done it.’

“Hopefully, she can build on that.”