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Wineglass Bay has ground out an important win at Rosehill.
Wineglass Bay has dispelled any concerns Chris Waller might have had over his will to win with a hard-fought Rosehill victory, putting himself on a path towards bigger spring races.
While the $3 favourite's long head margin over the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Too Much Caviar ($4.80) in Saturday's Bankstown Sports Handicap (2000m) was hardly convincing, the fact the gelding executed effectively off the back of a couple of minor placings was exactly what Waller wanted to see.
"He needed to win today. He's been a very consistent horse but just found a little excuse, maybe distance, maybe the headgear," Waller said.
"I was a little bit concerned, it was a good fight the last 200 metres, but he pulled out a little bit more in the finish.
"It's never easy to get past a Waterhouse-Bott runner. They're very fit horses, when they're controlling and rolling it makes it difficult.
"But I loved the way James (McDonald) just shadowed the horse, pulled out and banked on there being a little bit more, and there was."
Wineglass Bay hasn't raced beyond 2000m, but Waller is confident the five-year-old can improve further over more ground.
That has given him the confidence to raise the bar higher, with the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) a long-range target, while the Wyong Cup (2100m) and Newcastle Cup (2300m) are options along the way.
"I definitely think there will be improvement when we get up in distance," Waller said.
"He could go three weeks to a Newcastle Cup because he's had a pretty busy schedule without overtaxing him, and he's on track for a Metrop.
"I think he's that type of horse, but he has to be able to improve over further."