Said Com Back In Grand Style

Group One performer Said Com kicked off his latest campaign in ideal fashion with victory at Canterbury on Saturday.

First up since an autumn campaign where his biggest claim to fame was a runner-up finish in the Randwick Guineas behind Mosheen, the WS graduate was understandingly sent out as favourite on his return.

Those who took the short odds on him no doubt endured some nervous moments when the Chris Waller-trained galloper missed the kick and also gave the leaders a huge head start on straightening. Class prevailed eventually with Said Com arriving just in time against the pattern to win over 1250 metres.

“I thought the leader had the race shot to pieces with 200m to go but to the horse’s credit, he has dug pretty deep and he’s obviously got that extra gear and he has used it today,” Waller said. “It was a tough race first-up but there is no rush on him. He still has a long way to go wherever we end up. We’ll just place him properly and we’ll have a bit of fun.”

Waller has the Gr 1 Epsom Handicap as a target for the O’Reilly four-year-old he purchased out of WS’s 2010 Premier Sale consignment for $290,000. “He is a very handy horse,” Waller said. “He showed that the day he just got beat by Mosheen, who is a very good horse in her own right. That was basically his first serious race preparation and he ran second in a Group 1 so he is obviously up to that class.”

It was the first time Nash Rawiller had partnered Said Com with their success providing the leading hoop with a race to race double. “He gave me a beautiful feel throughout the race,” Rawiller said. “He relaxed very well in the run. Those Group placings he’s run are just unbelievable form lines. He’s run second to Laser Hawk before and I’ve got an unbelievable opinion of him. I think he is a very high class horse and it is good to see him back here and kicking off his campaign so well.”