Wudang Mountain To Step Up To Stakes Grade

Macau business CC Lai could have another Australian stakes performer sooner rather than later with Wudang Mountain to step up in grade following his win at Rosehill.

Lai celebrated Group One success in the autumn with Grand Marshal in the Sydney Cup, the same day his three-year-old Delectation won the Group Two Arrowfield Stakes.

Both are trained by Chris Waller who also prepares Wudang Mountain ($5) who fought off Let's Make It Rain ($10) to win Saturday's McGrath Estate Agents (1400m) by half a length.

Odds-on favourite, debut Kembla Grange winner River Wild ($1.75) finished another length third after showing his relative inexperience.

Waller has next month's Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle in mind as a stepping stone for Wudang Mountain towards the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

"The Spring Stakes at Newcastle could be a springboard to races like the Gloaming and then the Spring Champion Stakes," Waller said.

"He is a beautiful type and Nash Rawiller told me after he rode him that he would be much better over a mile.

"Denise Martin bought him at the Classic Sake for $155,000 and he was just a stand-out even then."

Wudang Mountain's stablemate Devil Hawk ($10) finished fifth and his future as a colt will be decided by the Spring Stakes.

A brother to 2013 Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur, Devil Hawk is also entered for the Spring Champion.

"There is a decision coming soon on whether he will be gelded," Waller said.