Waller sends Confederation south for fresh start in Vain Stakes

With a vast array of high quality three-year-olds in his stable, Chris Waller has decided to split his team between Melbourne and Sydney.

With Hidrix, Central Europe and Striking Alibi representing the stable in The Rosebud at Rosehill on Saturday, Waller has dispatch Confederation south to run in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Confederation arrived in Melbourne last week and had a jump-out at Flemington last Friday, finishing at the tail of the five-horse field.

The son of Wootton Bassett raced twice in his first campaign, chasing home his stablemate Hidrix on debut in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill in January before running second last behind Stretan Ruler in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at the same track three weeks later.

Racing NSW stewards slapped a warning on Confederation following that run which was partly instrumental in Waller deciding to send the colt to Melbourne.

Confederation had one trial, finishing second at Rosehill last month, before heading to the trainer’s Flemington base.

“He doesn’t like the Rosehill 1100 (metres),” Waller said of the decision to send Confederation to Melbourne.

“He had a couple of runs out of the shute and he used to get a bit aggressive and run out to the left, and it cost him a couple of times.”

Waller said he was still feeling his way with the new season three-year-olds, trying to work out which of his team had made the progression from two to three.

But the trainer has confidence Confederation will make the step.

“We go by feel,” Waller said.

“He looks like he’s come back well, and Damian Lane rode him on Friday, and he was pretty happy with him.”

While Lane partnered Confederation in the jump-out at Flemington last week, he switches to Hard Kick on Saturday.

Ben Melham will ride Confederation on Saturday.