Waller's Greater Harlem a Leading Contender

Wednesday's Vinery Handicap (1400m), the opening race on the Warwick Farm card, sees the Chris Waller team saddle up two runners after the initial scratching of top weight Giannis (Flying Artie). Last start second-placed Greater Harlem (Hinchinbrook-Harlem Heat, by Xaar), will look to continue to frank the form from his debut race, with the winner Overpass (Vancouver) having since won again impressively to take his record to three wins from his last three starts. Purchased by James Bester and Tom Magnier from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for a staggering $1.15m, the highest price ever achieved for a yearling by his ill-fated sire Hinchinbrook (a Fastnet Rock half-brother to champion sire Snitzel), Greater Harlem is a half-brother to the Listed-winning, Gr3-placed Harlem River (Fastnet Rock) from the family of dual Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) who sold at the recent Inglis Chairman's Sale for $2.2 million to Yulong. The best part of the colt's last start was his last 100m where he surged to the line over an unsuitable 1100m, and with the step up to 1400m, the James McDonald-ridden colt should prove very competitive. Current favourite for the race is the John O'Shea trained debut-winner Cotehele (Tavistock-Bequest, by Stravinsky) who demoralised her opponents by over three and a half lengths, and the step up in trip is only going to suit her further.

Greater Harlem was sold by Yarraman Park (pic: magicmillions.com.au)