Stratheden Stud

Calming Influence

Debut win for Calming Influence

13 January 2013

By his own admission, Chris Waller conceded the "one chink in his armour" has been the success rate with two-year-olds.

So, Sydney's premier trainer went about rectifying that anomaly and yesterday led in his third juvenile winner of the season with the impressive Calming Influence at Rosehill.

Calming Influence led throughout to score a stylish win in the Onemorenomore First Crop Handicap (1100m) to join stablemates Mamwaazel and Champagne Cath as dominant debut winners.

But it wasn't all good news for the all-conquering trainer who revealed brilliant filly Champagne Cath would miss the Golden Slipper because of injury.

"We learned on Thursday that Champagne Cath has a stress fracture to a hind leg," Waller said.

"It is not a significant injury but enough to keep her out of the autumn, so she will miss the Golden Slipper.

"Worse things can happen and I always thought she wasn't a 'real' two-year-old."

Champagne Cath has been arguably the most impressive two-year-old winner in Sydney so far this season and although Calming Influence did not win her debut quite as easily as her stablemate, she is obviously a filly of immense talent and potential.

Calming Influence, always solid in betting at $2.60, led throughout under Jason Collett to score by a length from Dream Forward ($3.40) with Miniature ($9) nearly two lengths away third.

Waller conceded that he needed to make some adjustments when preparing his two-year-olds and believes the results are starting to show this season.

"It has been the one chink in our armour," he said.

"I think we might have been 'over-trying' with our two-year-olds, trying to get them there too early and please our owners.

"We have done some fine-tuning, we needed to mix it up a little, and it is pleasing that our two-year-olds are racing well.

"They are doing things right at home and showing that on raceday."

Waller's three juvenile winners this season have all demonstrated superior race sense with Calming Influence and Champagne Cath leading throughout while Mamwaazel settled just in behind the leaders before accelerating past her rivals in the final 200m.

Calming Influence did everything right yesterday, jumping straight to the front, hugging the rails on the corner and maintaining a straight path in the run home to score with authority.

Waller described Calming Influence as "a very professional filly".

"She has a lot of ability and will improve with this run - both in fitness and experience," he said.

Calming Influence was a $115,000 weanling from the Magic Millions Sales, but Waller never thought the filly was a contender for the glamour Gold Coast race.

Dream Forward trailed Calming Influence to the turn and although the former had a little trouble getting clear at the 300m, she had her chance to run down the winner but was simply unable to bridge the gap.

Source: Ray Thomas, The Daily Telegraph

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