Waterford wins G2 Shannon Stakes

Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).

Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, Waterford was second up from a spell and motored to the line to win by more than two lengths taking his overall record to seven wins and nine placings from 30 starts with earnings topping $1.3million.

“He loves Rosehill. It was a lovely ride from James to park him so close. The race was his for the taking at the 400-metre mark. He got out and he stuck solid all the way to the line. It was a good win,” said Chris Waller, who will consider a start in the Group I Epsom for the seven year-old son of Awtaad, whose owners include racing personality Richard Callander.

Waterford is a half-brother to Listed Wagga Cup winner Wicklow (IRE) and is now the best of four winners from Wake Up (Ger), who is also now at stud in Australia.