Japanese Group One Winner Set To Debut For Waller

Japanese Group One Winner Set For Debut

Winner of the 2020 Group One HK Mile Cup, Lauda Sion has only be able to claim one victory since, winning a Group Two contest in Tokyo in May of 2021 and drawn a blank in all subsequent starts at elite level. 

Now, finding himself on Australian soil, Lauda Sion will resume his career on Zipping Classic at Caulfield on Saturday where he will line up in the Listed Doveton Stakes over 1200m. The import will be partnered with jockey Damien Lane who will carry the top weight of 60kgs. 

Lane is familiar with the horse having spent a period of time racing in Japan including finishing 5th behind Lauda Sion on his only Group One win to date. 

It’s an interesting distance to start Lauda Sion with previous trainer Takashi Saito opting to ride him between 1400m and a mile, with only 6 of the horses 25 starts coming at 1200m.

Below is Waller's assessment of the horse's chances first-up on Saturday, with TAB opening him up at $19 before punters tightened him into $9.50 through the week. 

"Interesting horse. Well-performed in Japan. Running in good races consistently over there," Waller said in his weekly stable update.

"Has taken a while to get fit, and I'll say he'd be improved by Saturday's run. Love to see him run a cheeky race.

"Anywhere near his best, he'd blow this lot away, but likely to need a run or two."

Lauda Sion will race in the familiar colours belonging to ever-growing racing/breeding giant Yulong.

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