Racing
Lightning strikes twice for Harvey at Championships
Campione D’italia has built on an eye-catching effort in the Golden Slipper to land a valuable Group 1 win.
Businessman and owner-breeder Gerry Harvey had a word of advice for buyers at the yearling sales after two of his horses who'd been passed-in captured back-to-back wins at Randwick.
Thirty-five minutes after homebred Chidiac, who he races outright, claimed the Country Championships Final (1400m), colt Campione D'Italia stormed to victory in the Group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).
Harvey part-owns the latter alongside a high profile group that includes Henry Field's Newgate Bloodstock, and said like Chidiac, Campione D'italia didn't sell in the ring.
"I passed it in, and Henry Field and I had a talk. I said, 'I want six hundred (thousand dollars) mate', and he said, 'I'll give you five hundred' and I said, 'get lost'. Then I thought I better do it," Harvey said.
"It's a very exciting day because we just had the country winner as well. We passed it in for $25,000. No-one wanted it.
"So if you want to buy a horse from my horse studs, always buy the passed-in ones. Never buy in the ring. You'll do much better buying a passed-in one."
A son of Snitzel, Campione D'italia ensured his future at stud with Saturday's major, an effort that followed a slashing fourth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) when he powered to the line from back in the field.
Waller said a low draw made a difference at Randwick, as did the colt's natural improvement.
"Today was his fourth career star and each run has got a little bit better, a little bit better," Waller said.
"His run in the Golden Slipper was amazing. He just got too far back. It was no-one's fault, and the horse is just learning all the time.
"He got a lovely draw today, and that was the difference between having him in the firing line or going back like he was last start.
"It was good to see him knuckle down and get the job done."
Militarize won the corresponding race in the same yellow and red colours three years ago before going on to take out the Champagne Stakes (1600m).
Waller is open to Campione D'italia being given the same opportunity if he pulls up well, but will discuss plans with his ownership group.
"Militarize, he won the Sires' and then he won the Champagne, so I'll have a talk to the team and see what they suggest," he said.
"We've got to nurse him a little bit, so we'll see how he comes through it."
Campione D'Italia ($4.20) scored by three-quarters of a length over Miss Chanel ($15) with the winner's stablemate, Fireball ($18), the same margin away third.
Fireball could also head to the Champagne Stakes pending his recovery.
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