WHEELHOUSE WINS THE WAVE

Sydney Jockey Larry Cassidy

A forty time Group 1 winner, Larry Cassidy added another title to his extensive resume when producing a huge run aboard Wheelhouse to swoop and win the $250,000 The Wave.

Most punters had focused on fellow Waller runner Lord Ardmore as the main chance to win the Gold Coast feature after being backed from an opening price of $3.80 into $2.80 at the jump.

However money did come late for Wheelhouse with punters backing the Cassidy’s ride from $6.50 into $4.80 late. Those punters would have been feeling pretty smug as well with the sydney jockey producing a huge run late to fly over the top and take out The Wave.

Wheelhouse had only won one start in his past 13 runs before The Wave but the experience of Cassidy going through his previous race replays led to a whole new racing approach with the horse. 

“I wanted to ride him a little bit conservative today, I went back and watched his replays and in his only win he came from a fair way back off a hot speed,” Cassidy said.

“Every other run he has been putting himself there closer, but the plan today certainly paid dividends.

“The speed was good enough and he hit the line really strong.

“Even though I was three-deep it has not been a disadvantage today so I wasn’t too worried, I had cover and I had horses taking me into the race.

“I was able to expose him at the right time and the horse did the rest.”

The win turns out to be a lucrative one for Cassidy and Waller after netting $145,000 for first place as well as a nomination for the Magic Millions race series. 

In 2021, Paradee won The Wave for trainer Danny O’Brien before taking out the $1m Magic Millions Open Handicap a week later.

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