Racing: Double puts icing on birthday cake

SYDNEY - Trainer Chris Waller couldn't have scripted a better way to celebrate his 37th birthday than picking up two feature wins at Warwick Farm on Saturday, including the Chipping Norton Stakes with Danleigh.

The Chipping Norton was the first group one event of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and broke new ground for Danleigh, who had not previously won at 1600m.

Just 40 minutes later, Triple Elegance put the icing on Waller's birthday cake when he won group three Liverpool City Cup (1300m) to earn a start alongside his stablemate in next month's A$2 million Doncaster Mile.

With the pace on up front, Hugh Bowman bided his time on Danleigh ($10) and waited until he balanced him in the straight to make his run.

Danleigh responded and overhauled Centennial Park ($9.50) to win by a neck, with Sacred Choice ($21) steaming home for third another three-quarters of a length away.

"It's great to be winning races, it doesn't matter if they are group races or not and everything has come together today," Waller said.

"All Danleigh's runs this time have been good and he was perfect going into the race.

"He was first out of the barriers into a beautiful spot three wide with cover.

"He proved he was strong at the mile.

"He has been an outstanding horse. He's won an All-Aged, a Manikato and the George Ryder last year.

"He was unlucky in the Doncaster last year and he can't get re-handicapped."

Danleigh was unplaced in the Expressway Stakes and Apollo Stakes and Waller said it was getting harder as he got older to get him to peak fitness.

Centennial Park proved to his trainer David Payne he would also be a worthy Doncaster contender after running such a strong 1600m. Drama surrounded Centennial Park who was without a rider after Corey Brown was injured in a barrier trial mishap on Friday.

Melbourne-based Noel Callow, who has just returned from Malaysia, put his hand up and flew to Sydney on Saturday to take the ride.

Callow who was also to rides in rural Victoria yesterday showed he was in fine shape with a confident ride.

"He had every chance - that was my job," he said.

"David's happy, the horse is happy, the jockey's happy, the best horse just won on the day."

Bowman, who won the 2010 George Ryder on Danleigh, was thrilled with the performance.

"I'm delighted to win on him, he's been a good horse to me," he said.

"He's a serious galloper but does need things to go his way and he's getting on now.

"It was a great win. Good horses give you their all and it was a great feeling."

The early Melbourne Cup favourite, Maluckyday, finished fourth, an effort which pleased co-trainer Michael Hawkes. Not so happy was his veteran jockey Jim Cassidy who copped four days for interference in the home straight.

"He will go to the Ranvet next," he said.

"I was very happy. He had no luck while the winner and runner-up had a clear passage."

The Ranvet Stakes (2000m) is at Rosehill on March 19.

Chipping Norton favourite Melito ($3) ran fifth with her trainer Gerald Ryan proud of the way she battled to the line.

"She had to do a lot of work early from the outside barrier and was the only on-pace runner who stayed there," Ryan said.

"She did a good job."

- AAP