Saturday, 5 November 2011:
Chris Waller completed a race-to-race double with honest mare Vintedge who overcame the outside barrier to win the Group Two Matriarch Stakes at Flemington.
The Rosehill trainer was still smiling after Albert The Fat took out Saturday's Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m).
"She has been a great horse for me and she has been with us for a long time," Waller said of Vintedge who was backing up after a narrow defeat by Foxstar over 1700m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
"She has consistently been there as we've been growing," he added of the Flying Spur six-year-old who has raced 37 times for six wins, five seconds and 11 thirds for just under $600,000 in stake earnings.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller, Vintedge ($11) came from last with a storming run to score by two lengths from Stole ($26) with
Skyerush ($3.20 fav) three-quarters of a length away third.
"She had a tough draw, full credit to Nash," Waller said.
"He didn't panic and he just got her there at the right time and was dominant in the end."
Waller said Rawiller would have ridden Albert The Fat in the Emirates but when he was suspended he lost the ride and ended up on stablemate Danleigh (eighth) after getting a day shaved off his careless riding suspension incurred at Bendigo last Wednesday week.
"He is close to the best in the game," Waller said.
Rawiller said Vintedge's victory was full of merit.
"She sat off a pretty hot speed and I thought I was going well enough," he said.
"She was very strong to the line. She showed a lot of fight getting beaten the other day and to back it up today."
