Considered the second seed of Chris Waller’s two runners, Madame Pommery has relished the heavy conditions to upstage stablemate Northern Beaches and race to an impressive victory at Rosehill.
A $150,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase, the filly was put in the paddock after she finished unplaced at her debut on a slow surface at Rosehill in January but returned a winner in Saturday’s Precise Fire Handicap (1200m).
Waller said she had always shown her share of ability and at one stage was in contention for a start in the Magic Millions Classic.
While she didn’t get to that race, the No Nay Never filly proved the more adept of Waller’s pair in the wet, with Northern Beaches unable to accelerate in the testing conditions, finishing third.
“She was one of our horses running pre-Slipper, we thought a bit of her and she has done everything right since,” Waller said.
“She looks to have a bright future.
“I thought the stablemate, Northern Beaches, was going to go straight past her but when the pressure came on, he struggled in the going and she excelled.”
Winning jockey Jay Ford was able to position Madame Pommery ($15) trailing the speed and once he got her into clear space in the straight, she let down strongly to score by 3-1/4 lengths over Dark Harmony ($26) with Northern Beaches ($4.40 fav) another half-neck away third.
Madame Pommery is raced by an all-girls syndicate that was put together by Waller’s wife Stephanie and his executive assistant Sophie Baker, who has been part of the champion trainer’s team for almost nine years.
“Steph and I had spoken about it, putting a ladies syndicate together, and one day we decided, ‘let’s do it’,” Baker said.
“This is our first winner.”
The syndicate is based around a champagne theme which is reflected in Madame Pommery’s colours – purple with two champagne flutes and white sleeves.
“I love champagne. We will go and celebrate with a glass now,” Baker said.