Early double to Waller at Randwick

Saturday 7 June 2014, 2:13pm

Saigon Tea's proven wet track form was to the fore when the mare lived up to her odds-on quote to give premier trainer Chris Waller the first leg of a winning double at Randwick.

Saturday's track was rated a heavy 9 after two days of rain but Saigon Tea skimmed through the ground with ease to avenge her last-start third at Canterbury.

Ridden by Jim Cassidy, Saigon Tea ($1.75) came from near-last to overhaul Casino Dancer ($4) and win the TAB Rewards Hcp (2000m) by 3-1/2 lengths.

Early leader Street Spirit ($41) held on for third another long head away.

"She has got a lap on these," Cassidy said.

"Ten furlongs on a wet track with me back on - what more do you want?"

Formerly trained in New Zealand, Saigon Tea took her record to four wins from five starts on slow and heavy ground.

Her stablemate Rugged Cross ($3.20) also proved adept in the wet, winning the Schweppes Hcp (1400m) by a half length from the favourite Commission ($2.90).

A former English horse, Rugged Cross finished third in a Listed race over 2012m behind Thought Worthy and Frankel's brother Noble Mission before being unplaced in the Epsom Derby won by Camelot.

"His best form is over ground so it was pleasing to see what he did today," Waller's foreman Peter Muscat said.

It was the second Australian win for Rugged Cross who won his first at Sandown more than a year ago at his local debut.

– AAP

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