It was 20 minutes to savour for Chris Waller as Sacred Falls showed he was the best weight-for-age horse in the country and then old favourite Foreteller made it a couple of group 1s in different cities for his stable for the first time.
Sacred Falls was explosive in the George Main Stakes at Randwick.
"I really saw a serious horse in the autumn," Waller said. "But he is getting better. He was a hard horse to train early but he is getting better with his eating and constitution and better on the track."
Waller had only just accepted the trophy when he watched Foreteller outduel Happy Trails in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield. The win brought a tear to his eye.
"I get emotional with those older horses because you spend so much time with them," Waller said. "This horse has come back from a broken leg in the Doomben Cup a couple of years ago and won two group 1s.
"He is just one of those horses that you love because he is always there doing his best."
Waller could have several runners in the Cox Plate. Sacred Falls and Foreteller head the list that includes Royal Descent, runner-up in the George Main.
She was left standing by Sacred Falls when he took an inside run and dashed away to score by 1-1/4 lengths with something in hand from Royal Descent with early leader Laser Hawk holding on for third another half length back.
Sacred Falls has won two Doncasters on wet tracks but he still had something to prove going into the George Main.
Zac Purton gave him the perfect run three back on the fence in a slowly run race and then took a run inside three-year-old Panzer Division that had hit the front at the 250m mark. It was the sprint that stunned many.
"He has always had that ability but because he gets back in the field and was winning on wet tracks you never really saw it," Purton said.
"He was able to get closer today and he really had that turn of foot that you need at weight-for-age."
Waller has planned a preparation aimed at the Cox Plate for Sacred Falls, where he is a $12 second favourite after his win. He will run in the Turnbull Stakes or Caulfield Stakes as a final lead-up.
Waller admitted he was surprised when Sacred Falls returned to his stable this season.
"I thought when he won the second Doncaster that would be it and it was a very brave decision by the owners but it looks a smart one now," Waller said. "That's his fourth group 1, all over the mile, and what more can you ask. It's just good when a plan comes off. He was set for the race.
"I'm sure Royal Descent's time will come in these races because she is just so consistent."
Three-year-old Panzer Division hit the front in the straight but failed to hold off the older horses, finishing fifth.
"He just got a bit lost and it's a little bit new for him having his fourth start in a race," trainer Paul Messara said. "It is his first prep, but he raced really well and I think once he puts it all together and really works out how to flatten out, that's when you'll see the best of him. I reckon he's got a group 1 in him."
Lucia Valentina was made Caulfield Cup favourite after coming from well back in the field to charge late into sixth.
"She ran really well," jockey Kerrin McEvoy said. "It was a stop start affair, she saved ground around the bend and picked up into the straight. She gave me a good feel hitting the line. She's on target."
