Racing: Metal Bender displays steel in heading trifecta

Photo / Richard Robinson

SYDNEY - Metal Bender signalled he would be a force in the spring's biggest races when he led in a Chris Waller-trained trifecta in the group two Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

The triple group one winner firmed from $23 to $14 for the Cox Plate after he held off stablemates Triple Honour and Danleigh.

The dash he showed over 1400m was no surprise to Waller, who said in the lead-up all three were tuned up for the race.

Punters stuck with proven sprinter Danleigh and sent him out the $2.20 favourite with Triple Honour at $9.50 and Metal Bender, the least favoured, at $15.

But it was Metal Bender who got the upper hand by a short neck over the fast-finishing Triple Honour with Danleigh another three-quarters of a length away.

"It's a privilege to train these types of horses," Waller said on Saturday.

"It's a super return for Metal Bender and Triple Honour.

"They both trialled on Monday and I talked up all three and thought they would all go well.

"There's still room for improvement and it is exciting going ahead. Metal Bender is a special horse and Triple Honour is going as good as ever."

Hugh Bowman was aboard Danleigh in the Warwick Stakes with Tim Clark on Metal Bender. "I was pretty confident coming to the races thinking he'd run very well because he's such a good horse," Clark said.

"Drawing soft [barrier four]) obviously helped because he put himself into a winnable position."

The trio are scheduled to clash again in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) in two weeks.

"The plan for Danleigh is to head towards the George Main Stakes," Waller said.

"I want to get Triple Honour to the Caulfield Cup and I will try to keep him in Sydney as long as possible. With Metal Bender we are keeping sight of the Melbourne carnival races so we'll go to the Chelmsford and take it from there."

Purple put in a solid performance to run fourth with Theseo fifth and Brilliant Light next with only 2 lengths covering the first six.

- AAP