Stormy Marco delivers second Victoria Derby for McDonald
Chris Waller claimed his fourth Victoria Derby, while Mark Zahra returned from a Caulfield Cup fall to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
James McDonald rode Stormy Marco to victory in Flemington’s Group 1 Victoria Derby, bringing trainer Chris Waller his fourth success in the 2,500m race. Cold Shower took second place, with Quick Finish third.
Despite drawing an outside barrier, McDonald guided the three-year-old through the field before pulling away in the straight. The result gave the jockey his second Victoria Derby victory.
Earlier, Mark Zahra won the Coolmore Stud Stakes aboard The Next Episode on his return to racing, two weeks after falling from Half Yours in the Caulfield Cup. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt beat St Gotthard by a long neck in the A$2 million Group 1 race over 1,200m. Mbube placed third and Under Focus fourth.
Zahra had missed Cox Plate day after doctors ordered a week off. He now has three Coolmore Stud Stakes wins, including consecutive victories following his success on Tentyris last year. For Maher, it was a first win in the event.
Waller also trained the first two finishers in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes: The Roaring Sun, ridden by Damian Lane, and Unhinged, with McDonald aboard. Conquer The World finished third. It was Waller’s sixth win in the race and third in succession. He also won the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes through De Armas, ridden by Blake Shinn.
