Gai Waterhouse will consider trying to complete the Wyong-Newcastle Cup double with imported stayer Julienas, who denied the locals a hometown feature victory on the Central Coast this afternoon.
Julienas held off a late lunge from local galloper Gazza Guru to take out the $150,000 Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) by a head to give Waterhouse and Nash Rawiller the feature double after Miss Stellabelle won the Listed Mona Lisa Plate (1350m).
Rawiller believes there is plenty of upside to Julienas who is headed towards the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney, via the Group 3 Newcastle Cup or another Metropolitan event.
“I felt the horse had the race in its keeping the whole way,” Rawiller said.
Julienas and recent winner Glencadam Gold were two of four horses purchased by Waterhouse in England
Waterhouse’s stable representative Mark Newnham said Glencadam Gold would head to the Newcastle Cup, with the race also an option for Julienas.
“Gai and (racing manager) Bruce Slade narrowed it down to the horses they wanted to buy and they’ve come up trumps with this horse today and Glencadam Gold last Saturday,” Newnham said.
The Stephen Farley-trained Gazza Guru was momentarily held up when looking for a split between Kelinni and Julienas before diving through late.
Gazza Guru’s jockey Brenton Avdulla viewed the film but said his momentum was halted by eventual fourth placegetter Kelinni who rolled out slightly, and didn’t lodge a protest.
-with AAP
