Wally booked his place for the Bombardier All-Weather Mile Championship with a swooping success in the mile Listed Prix Saonois at Cagnes-sur-Mer this afternoon, Saturday, February 20.
A Listed winner on turf last year, this was a second All-Weather success in as many starts for the four-year-old following an impressive display over the course and distance on February 1.
Former British-trained runner Canagat (Georgios Alimpinisis/Theo Bachelot) built up a big lead down the back straight while Wally (Jean-Claude Rouget/Jean-Bernard Eyquem) tracked 13/10 favourite Kenway (Frederic Rossi/Pierre-Charles Boudot) in midfield of the 11 runners.
Canagat was still more than 10 lengths clear at the top of the straight as Kenway and Wally angled out to deliver a challenge. The leader’s stride shortened at the furlong marker and that opened the door for the closers, with Wally surging clear close home for an impressive two and a half-length success. Kenway took second, with Canagat a length further back in third.
After a steady start to his career, Wally has now won five of his last six starts, with his other Listed success coming in a 10-furlong contest at Compiegne in July.
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget said: “The leader has served my horse well. The greater the pace, the better for him.
“Wally is a good horse who has only lost once since the start of last year. Gelding him did a lot of good.”
