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Month: March 2022

September Run bounces back to land group 1 William Reid for Waller

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September Run, ridden by Craig Williams, wins the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. RACING PHOTOS

September Run bounces back to land group 1 William Reid for Waller

25th March 2022

The Chris Waller-trained September Run sprinted back to form in sensational style in the William Reid Stakes at The Valley, landing the last group 1 of the Victorian season and bursting the bubble of boom galloper Marabi.

The Craig Williams-ridden mare had not won since she completed a spring hat-trick during the 2020 Melbourne Cup carnival by winning the group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes as a three-year-old filly.

But she showed she was coming back to form last time out with a first-up third in the group 1 Newmarket Handicap and confirmed she was back to her best with a slashing one-length victory in last night’s 1200-metre contest.

Marabi, who had won all seven of her starts – including the group 1 Oakleigh Plate last time out – was backed into short-priced favouritism to continue the sequence she and rider Ben Allen had put together.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained five-year-old was always prominent in a keenly run race and she took command at the top of the straight.

But she and Allen had no answer when first September Run flashed past and then the late closers swooped in the shadows of the post as she wilted in the dying strides.

Two outsiders, Halvorsen and General Beau finished best of the rest for second and third with Marabi’s stable companion Generation fourth.

Waller made the trek down from Sydney to witness the daughter of Exceed and Excel bounce back to her best and admitted afterwards it was the first time he had been at the track since Cox Plate Day three years ago.

“She was the best three-year-old of her season, but it (went) backwards from then. It was a glimpse of September Rain last start. (Tonight) she really got to show her class,” said Waller.

September Run Strikes in G1 William Reid Stakes

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She’s back (image Grant Courtney)

September Run Strikes in G1 William Reid Stakes

Friday March 25

Without a win since defeating Swats That and Wild Ruler in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud stakes at Flemington in October 2020, September Run has rarely run a bad race against the best sprinters since.

When she gets the race to suit, the 4yo daughter of Exceed And Excel has a withering finishing burst.

All stars aligned for September Run in Friday night’s $1,000,000 Group 1 – 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

With Craig Williams in the saddle, the Chris Waller-trained mare came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the Magnus gelding Halvorsen by a length with the Brazen Beau colt General Beau a neck back in third.

The undefeated winning run of Marabi came to an end when she clocked in fifth.

Waller said he was hopeful that September Run was back to her best following a last start third in the Newmarket.

“She was probably the best three year old of her season, and its gone backwards since then, but it was a glimpse of September Run last start. She’s been bouncing out of her skin,” Waller said.

“It’s not normally her favourite track, but those runs have been over 1000 metres, 1100 metres. Tonight was 1200 metres, and she really got to show her class.

“It’s the first time I’ve been at Moonee Valley in three years, Jo (Taylor) has kept the ball rolling for us, I’m very fortunate to have good staff around Australia.”

Sporting the silks of Hermitage Thoroughbreds, September Run advances her record to six wins, a second, and two thirds from 19 starts, with earnings of $2,234,900.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel was purchased for $380,000 out of the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Bred by Greg White’s Alpara Lodge in South Australia, September Run is the first foal of the talented Street Cry (IRE) mare Pittsburgh Flyer, who was also bred and raced by Alpara Lodge.

Pittsburgh Flyer won the Group III RC GH Mumm Stakes and was fourth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

A daughter of Warning Zone (Elliador), the champion 2YO Filly in South Africa in 2002-03, Pittsburgh Flyer was purchased by Go Bloodstock Australia/Paul Moroney B/stock for $500,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when carrying a filly by American Pharoah (USA).

That filly was purchased for $100,000 by Hirsch Racing out of the Coolmore draft at the Easter Yearling Sale. She was named My Yankee Girl has two wins and two seconds from four starts for John Salanitri.

Pittsburgh Flyer has a yearling filly by Merchant Navy, who was snapped up by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Best Bloodstock for $700,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

After foaling a brother to September Run last spring, Pittsburgh Flyer revisited Exceed And Excel but slipped.