Waller's High Priced Pair on Debut

The two-year-old colts and geldings race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, the Robrick Lodge Handicap (1100m) sees four first starters amongst the 13 acceptances including the Chris Waller-trained pair of Greater Harlem (Hinchinbrook-Harlem Heat, by Xaar) and Huriwai (I Am Invincible-Tai Tai Tess, by Magic Albert) who were purchased for $1.15m and $850,000 respectively at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud. Greater Harlem, a half-brother to the Listed-winning, Gr3-placed Harlem River (Fastnet Rock) from the family of dual Gr1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) accepted to race last Wednesday but was withdrawn, with his stablemate Cork Harbour (Snitzel) winning the race, and with just one lone barrier trial to his record, finishing six lengths off Profiteer (Capitalist) back in January, the colt may need the run. Huriwai, also with one trial under his belt, finished close to four lengths off Saif (Pride Of Dubai) back in March before that winner went on to record Gr3 success at Rosehill, and is a half-brother to stablemate Voltaerra (I Am Invincible), a $1.3m yearling purchase, with many of the same owners in both runners. The Gary Portelli-trained Capital Reign (Capitalist-Elle Lou, by Snitzel) looks hard to beat off the back of his impressive debut victory at Canberra, while the David Payne-trained Gleneagles (Capitalist-Scarlet Billows, by Street Boss) was a second on debut in the RL Wyong Magic Millions 2YO in December and was a length winner more recently at Hawkesbury over 1000m.

Greater Harlem is closely related to dual Gr1 winner In Her Time (pic: Steve Hart)