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By Brad Gray
At Rosehill Gardens

Stakes Grade Next For Charlayne
Chris Waller said during that week that Charlayne could be a “special filly” and his opinion was vindicated with the three-year-old taking out the opener at Rosehill Gardens.

Waller thinks so highly of the daughter of Sebring that he’ll next tackle the $200,000 G2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) with her, to be run on February 17.

“She’s a very promising filly, winning her maiden a few weeks and didn’t really want to step her straight up against the boys to a Saturday but there wasn’t too many other options. Her ability has got her there today,” Waller said.

“What she lacked today, the others had in terms of race experience, but she certainly makes up for it with ability.”

Kerrin McEvoy said of the filly, who has done it all in one preparation, that although her manners are already exemplary, there’s still more to come.

“She is on the upward curve for sure. She is pretty willing and wants to get out there and race for you,” said McEvoy.

Charlayne into $3.20 with @tabcomau. Heavily backed!

Chris Waller has a big opinion of this Sebring filly. pic.twitter.com/iSyZkiNie5

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 3, 2018

Beaten Brigade In Canonbury
Stratosphere and Exceltic look to be two colts worth following with the former going down by a nostril to Performer, and firming in from $51 to $21 with TAB for the Golden Slipper, while the heavily supported Exceltic will take plenty from the outing.

Here are what the two respective jockeys had to say about their mounts on debut:

Glyn Schofield – Stratosphere (2nd)

“He is a nice progressive type of horse. He just didn’t have the race smarts that the winner had. He got a bit lost out there on his own but once he got alongside the winner he probably had the beating of him but the post came too soon. He is a very smart horse.”

“I saw (Performer) but he was unsure of what to do. When they came together it made him more competitive and he found half a length in five strides.”

Corey Brown – Exceltic (3rd)

“He ran well. He was a little bit new. The winner was a bit smart for him but he is a lovely horse. He did a few little things wrong. I drove him at the start and he half popped up then they got running really quickly. He got into a nice enough position.”

“With that little bit of cut in the track he was finding it a bit hard to get his foot in.”

Exceltic has been supported to beat Performer after impressing at the trials.

$3.30 with @tabcomau. pic.twitter.com/LubPbrfJUK

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 3, 2018

Two Jeans Is Better The One
Jean Dubois and Jean Van Overmeire combined in the TAB Highway Plate with the success of Mate Story giving Dubios his first city winner.

Dubios, who trains a dozen gallopers out of Goulburn, admitted he had reservations coming back in trip but everything else set up perfectly for the four-year-old.

“He needed a strong tempo. He is only one paced and he didn’t need another firm track,” said Dubios.

“I feel great training a winner in the city!”

Mate Story’s win was to the frustration of most punters with odds on favourite Acquittal running second. Jay Ford said he was never really worried in the run but he didn’t respond like he did at Randwick last start.

“The winner was too good. He wanted to go keen mid-race, he played up in the gates and did a lit bit wrong but was beaten by a better one,” Ford said.

Mate Story was too strong for odds on pop Acquittal in the @tabcomau Highway giving Jean Dubois his first city winner! pic.twitter.com/lXov0SbNCX

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 3, 2018

McEvoy Back With Four Winners
It was like he never left.

Kerrin McEvoy only returned to riding this weekend after a broken hand but the champion hoop proved why he is one of the best in the country, winning the first three races at Rosehill Gardens and then the last with Don't Give A Damn.

The first three were all on well fancied runners, and all for Chris Waller, but don’t take anything away from the achievement.

“I said to him after his first win, you are not even blowing,” said Waller before heaping praise on McEvoy.

“People don’t understand what these professional jockeys do away from the race track to get their fitness levels to where they can recover and come back from injuries quicker. With fitness comes timing, confidence and it’s a big thing. We’re talking high intensity races, winning by noses and having everything right.

“It’s no surprise Kerrin is as good as he is. Today are the days you do see it as opposed to winning a Group One races.”

Check out all the results and replays for Saturday's Rosehill Gardens meeting.