Chris Waller produced another training masterstroke to coax Sir Bacchus back to winning form at Warwick Farm.

Sir Bacchus, the grey gelding with an ownership base that seemed to make up half the racetrack attendance, held off Spectroscope to win the December Handicap (1400m).

Waller, Sydney’s reigning premier trainer and a member of racing’s elite Hall of Fame, revealed he switched training bases with Sir Bacchus after the gelding’s poor last start effort hoping a change of environment would help the talented, enigmatic sprinter.

“Sir Bacchus has ability but he has been a frustrating horse at times,’’ Waller said.

“His first-up run was very good but he was not quite the same second-up, he raced a little flat.

“So, I decided to send him over to our Warwick Farm stables for a change of scenery. It seems a little bit more relaxed here and that works for some horses.

“I wasn’t sure if it was going to work with Sir Bacchus until raceday but it obviously has done the trick.’’

Sir Bacchus was backed from $8.50 into $6.50 before his long neck win over Spectroscope ($5.50) with Conarchie ($7) a neck away third.

Waller prepared a winning double with Sir Bacchus complementing the earlier success of stablemate Naval Warfare.

Sir Bacchus, who scored his eighth career win from 30 starts and took his career earnings to a very healthy figure of nearly $550,000, also gave star jockey Tommy Berry a winning double after his previous success on Heart Conquered.

“There was a big bunch of owners in this horse and it was nice to win for them,’’ Berry said.

“It’s also good for older horses like him to get one on the board as Chris (Waller) got him here in such good shape.

“He usually misses the kick but today he jumped well and put himself into the race more than he has in the past. I felt very confident a long way out.’’

Berry is also an advocate for more Saturday racing at Warwick Farm, a racetrack that is primarily used as a midweek venue.

“Personally, it is always nice to ride winners on my home track — I love this place so let’s keep coming back.’’

James Cummings, trainer of runner-up Spectroscope, was offering no excuses for his galloper’s defeat.

“He is going well this preparation but it is a struggle for us to get him winning again because he is carrying big weights in competitive races,’’ Cummings said.

“I will probably run him here again in a fortnight in a mile handicap.’’

Cummings revealed Spectroscope will be offered for sale at the Magic Millions Summer Racehorse Sale on January 15.

GOLD MEDAL IN BAR BRAWL
Nicci’s Gold returned to her best form and ended the winning streak of The Art Of The Bar at Warwick Farm.

Jason Collett completed a double in successive races, following his front-running ride on Monsieur Sisu 40 minutes earlier with a last-to-first effort on Nicci’s Gold in the TAB Rewards Handicap (1400m).

Trainer Gary Portelli described Nicci’s Gold as the “perfect owners horse” after her fifth win from 21 starts.

“Gold Edge Syndications bought her for $25,000, she was the last horse in the ring at the Classic Sale that year and now she has won over $280,000,’’ Portelli said.

“She gets back in fast run races, if they go slower we can ride her closer, she runs up to 1800m and handles all tracks – she is just a perfect owners horse really.’’

Nicci’s Gold ($10) unleashed a powerful late surge to overwhelm early leader and hot favourite The Art Of The Bar ($2.10) to win by a widening two lengths with Sweet Victory ($10) one-and-a-half lengths away third.

Portelli, who also had a winner with A Million Dreams at Randwick’s Kensington meeting last Friday, said Nicci’s Gold appreciated the solid up-front tempo.

“Jason seems to have the key to this mare,’’ Portelli continued.

“This guy really knows how to switch her off and bring her home. She got on the bridle a couple of times last start and there were excuses for her last start.

“She is a very genuine mare and is one of those horses that keeps raising the bar every preparation.’’

The Art Of The Bar, who was chasing her fourth successive win, began brilliantly and assumed her customary front-running role, leading comfortably.

Jockey Tim Clark tried to kick clear off the home bend and although The Art Of The Bar fought on bravely over the final 300m she had no answer when Nicci’s Gold joined her half-way down the straight.

Trainer Adrian Bott is still pressing on to the $2 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast on January 12.

“This was the filly’s first time up to 1400m and she was taking on the older mares - I thought it was a pass mark,’’ Bott said.

“We will keep going with our plans to run in the Magic Millions Guineas. I’m hoping she can make the field with $120,000 prizemoney but if not there are other races for her.’’