Craig KerryMay 23, 2026 — 4:47pmSiena Grima had her sights on running down Braith Nock to claim the Sydney apprentices’ title after landing her first city treble with almost identical rides for boss Chris Waller on a memorable day for the stable.Grima came down the inside from back in the field on Declichy Boulevard ($9.50), Tazima ($5) and God’s Window ($5.50) in a race-to-race hat-trick as rain turned the soft 7 track at Randwick to a heavy nine by the eighth event.Siena Grima after winning on God’s Window to bring up her hat-trick.Getty ImagesAt Doomben, Waller went to 200 career group 1s, behind only Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings (246) in Australian racing, when Birdman won the Doomben Cup with James McDonald aboard. It also extended Waller’s Australian record for a season to 20 group 1s.At Randwick, Declichy Boulevard, first-up after a year off with a tendon injury, powered to a three-quarter length win before Tazima and God’s Window scored in photo-finishes. Invader Zim won the last with Kerrin McEvoy aboard to give Waller four on the card.Grima’s haul took her to 19 metropolitan wins for the season, nine behind defending champion apprentice Nock, who had a victory on the day with Brad Widdup-trained Bella Khadijah in the Midway Handicap.A Queensland city win in 2024-25 meant Grima went to 20 overall in her metropolitan career, ending her time as a three-kilogram claimer in town.Siena Grima winning on God’s Window at Randwick.Getty ImagesSaturday’s treble came almost six months since Grima came to Waller’s Rosehill stables, under the guidance of champion former jockey Darren Beadman, from Tamworth trainer Mel O’Gorman on a three-month loan. Tazima had helped seal that deal in August, taking Grima to a midweek city win with her first ride for the premier trainer.Her previous best day in town was a midweek double and she said the goal now was to catch Nock for the coveted apprentices’ crown with two months remaining. Nock this month started a three-month loan with Annabel and Rob Archibald at Warwick Farm.Grima came to Waller with hopes of carving out a full-time spot in the Sydney jockeys’ room and she was thrilled to further those ambitions on Saturday.“I thought the horses were nice horses, my only concern was the terrible barriers, but they really overcome it today and just showed their class,” Grima said.“It’s going really great. Darren is amazing, he’s always watching my rides and asking me things about them, and if I ever need any advice, I can always call him up. Chris is always putting me on some really nice horses, like today, and I’m just really grateful for it.”Portelli gets fiery youngster on trackTrainer Gary Portelli was learning towards local targets with green prospect Friendly Fire after he fought back late to beat favourite Keen To Exceed in the 1200m two-year-old handicap at Randwick.Second-up off a runner-up finish in the Inglis 2YO Challenge at Wagga, Friendly Fire ($6) raced behind the leader before taking over at the 300m and kicking late under Alysha Collett to hold off Keen To Exceed ($2.90) by a half neck.Portelli said he would look for another wet track, likely close to home, for the Farnan gelding.Trainer Gary Portelli.Wolter Peeters“I wouldn’t think we’d go to Brisbane yet, but I’ll be guided by the ownership group,” Portelli said.“I’d rather stay here and pick up $80,000 plus BOBS [bonus] every couple of weeks.”Owner-breeder Louis Mihalyka, of Laurel Oak Bloodstock, bought Friendly Fire’s dam, Amica, for $220,000.Portelli said Friendly Fire was not there physically yet but had come a long way in his education after being a “bugger of a colt” he sent back to the breakers.“He’s got a lot to learn still. He does a few things wrong in the barriers,” he said.“The first time he went to the barriers, I thought he was going to kill himself. I’ve never seen a horse get away with not injuring itself with what he did. He got his legs caught up, he was kicking the hell out of it and broke the back gate.”A trip north for a major target was also unlikely for Ciaron Maher-trained Agent Zero, which won the 1800m benchmark 72 handicap for three-year-old. The Snitzel gelding, which gave Dynamic Syndications a 999th win, was not among nominations for next Saturday’s Queensland Derby.Williams keen to exit off HighwaysGoulburn trainer Danny Williams was looking to benchmark races for Exit Fee after he ended a run of outs in Highway Handicaps with a thrilling finish on Saturday.Adam Hyeronimus found a late split aboard the four-year-old, which ran down Wayburn over the final furlong to get a half-head win and breakthrough at Randwick at his 10th attempt.Exit Fee’s most recent win was 15 months ago in a Rosehill Highway, and he had six more cracks at the grade before Saturday’s victory.Williams said Exit Fee was having his best preparation after previous campaigns were hindered by fetlock and throat problems.“These Highways are really hard to win,” Williams said.“I’d much prefer to be running these types of horses in 78 benchmarks on a Saturday where they are down in the weights and they are better-run, true-run races where they are not all over the shop.“You get a lot of inconsistencies in Highways and they are bloody hard to win.”Baker stayer on the way upThe group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) was on the radar for Thebudgiesmugla after the Bjorn Baker-trained five-year-old’s tough on-pace effort to win over 2400m at Randwick on Saturday.The $3 favourite for the benchmark 78 handicap raced outside the leader before taking over at the 300m and holding off Casual Connection late by a half-head for jockey Josh Parr.A two-time winner in New Zealand, the Darby Racing buy took his Australian record to three wins in six starts. Baker said the June 13 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm would be considered.“I thought it was a good effort,” Baker said.“He was still probably going to be vulnerable late up to 2400 with a big weight, so I think we can definitely look at better options. I think he’s a really good stayer in the making and it was good to see him win.”Grima was fined $300 for excessive whip use on John Sargent-trained Casual Connection, which she hit nine times before the 100m.From our partners