ENJOYING THE EXHILERATING EXPERIENCE OF RACING AT THE ELITE LEVEL

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 28, 2022

Eighteen runners lined up in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on May 28. Amongst them was Red Wave representing the Tony and Maddysen Sears training partnership.

It was never going to be an easy ask for Red Wave, a fact well and truly underlined by his starting price of $101 … but just to be there was a thrill with Maddysen Sears saying pre-race that to finish in the top half of the field would be a terrific result.

Racing at the elite level in a $1 million race … whatever the outcome … it is a great experience in itself.

For the stable then, Red Wave coming back in eight place was a satisfying outcome.

Kyle Wilson-Taylor jumped Red Wave well enough and then angled his mount to in cross behind the speed. With the early chase pretty keen though, as runners jostled for position, Red Wave ended up just worse than midfield and still held three wide in the early part as the leader, the $21 chance Menazzi, began to stretch the field out.

Down the back stretch Red Wave was all of ten to twelve lengths back and, as early as the 800m mark, Wilson-Taylor began to rev Red Wave up and the ever game son of Red Dazzler responded well to improve his position, halving his deficit to the leader.

But … that effort, which had been made all of seven wide because of the jam-packed passage along the inside half of the track, understandably left Red Wave in a difficult position.

With others now quickening ahead of him, the task of sustaining a run was a difficult one for Red Wave.

Given the circumstances and the quality of the opposition, it wasn’t surprising that Red Wave could not force his way into contention but, while the two New Zealand-breds Pinarello ($6.50) and Paternal ($5) forged away to fight out a thrilling finish, Red Wave continued to do what he always does … that is do the best he can.

Red Wave passed seven runners in the straight to compete a highly creditable performance and give Maddysen Sears her targeted top ten finish.

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