1 hour ago
4
Craig Kerry
April 23, 2026 — 5:00pm
Owner Riccardo Surace jnr hopes a dry track for Panova and inside draw for Generosity can help make B2B Thoroughbreds a part of racing history as premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller strives for his 200th group 1 win and a season record at Morphettville on Saturday.
Waller and top jockey James McDonald head to the $1 million Australasian Oaks (2000m) and Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) after a dominant Sydney autumn carnival taking in 10 group 1s for the combination and 12 in total for the trainer.
The haul took Waller to 18 for 2025-26, one short of his Australian record for most group 1s in a season, and 198 in his career. McDonald has 13 all up this campaign, three away from Mal Johnston’s 1979-80 record for most in a season.
Sydney-based B2B Thoroughbreds, Surace jnr and his father’s breeding and racing operation, provide Waller with his only chances on Saturday to add to his group 1 list.
Panova contests the Oaks, where she was a $7.50 (TAB) chance from gate 16. Generosity ($6.50) has barrier one in the Robert Sangster.
B2B Thoroughbreds-owned Lazzura was part of Waller and McDonald’s autumn run, winning the Coolmore Classic and giving the colours a first group 1, and the connections hope they can triumph again.
“It would be amazing if he does it,” Surace jnr said of Waller’s milestones.
“It would be fantastic, but it’s group 1 racing, you can’t go there expecting to win.
“You just have to hope they are prepared well and can run to their best.”
Generosity is five weeks between runs after a finishing a neck away fifth in a blanket finish to the group 1 Galaxy following a first-up victory in the group 2 Challenge Stakes.
“This has been a target race for Generosity for basically the whole prep,” Surace jnr said.
“She’s drawn OK in one. I don’t think it’s too much of a disadvantage. All of the other favourites have drawn wide and I’d rather one than 17, and hopefully she just gets a bit of luck.
“She’s in great form, she trialled well the other day [at Flemington] and she’s building to a peak performance. We’ve got James on, which helps, and he was pretty keen to stick with her.”
The five-year-old mare was to go to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on May 7 but will now race on for the Suraces in the UK at the Royal Ascot carnival, where they will target the King Charles III Stakes in June. Surace snr was a part-owner of Star Witness, which placed twice at Royal Ascot in 2011.
“The opportunity came up to go to Royal Ascot, and that’s well and truly on the cards if she runs well enough,” Surace jnr said.
“She definitely won’t go to an auction this year, she’s got at least another good 12 months left in her.
“We thought of it a while ago, then after she won the Challenge, we got more serious about it. Royal Ascot got in touch with Chris and we thought it would be a good opportunity.
“We’re going over to win, not just to go. She’s the perfect horse for it. We think she’ll handle the straight with her racing style, where she can settle a bit closer.”
He said Lazzura, runner-up last start in the All Aged Stakes, had gone for a spell and could make the trip to Royal Ascot next year.
While the Robert Sangster has long been a goal for Generosity, the Oaks is a back-up option for Panova.
The $325,000 Trapeze Artist filly won the group 3 Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick and Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington in the spring but has been unplaced in three autumn runs after a setback early in her preparation.
She struggled on soft 6 tracks in the group 1 Surround and Vinery Stud Stakes but produced her best effort in between when powering through the line for fifth in the Phar Lap Stakes on a good 4.
“Her whole prep has been a bit frustrating due to those wet tracks,” Surace jnr said.
“I’m not too worried about the barrier. In Adelaide they often swoop home in those distance races, and if she can put her best foot forward, she can definitely go close.
“She’s one of the most talented three-year-old fillies, which we saw in the spring, on that dry footing.”
The Suraces also combine with Waller at Randwick with Jellicious in the benchmark 78 (1200m) for fillies and mares.
“A good track will help and she will go to the Brisbane carnival if she runs well,” Surace jnr said.
“She’s always promised us that she can be a good, stakes-level horse. She gets better as she gets into her prep, especially on dry tracks.”
