Former Victorian star Kings Will Dream has begun his preparation for a spring comeback under the care of champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller.
Kings Will Dream was hailed as one of Australia’s most exciting prospects after winning his first five starts for Darren Weir following his importation from Ireland as a maiden winner.
His rise to the top level included winning the Listed Mornington Cup in the autumn of 2018.
He went into last spring as favourite for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, a position he consolidated with G1 placings in the Memsie, Makybe Diva and Turnbull Stakes before he suffered a serious injury in the WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley won by Winx.
The gelding was pulled up by his rider John Allen midway through the Cox Plate and was later diagnosed with a pelvic fracture and a ruptured blood vessel which required a month of specialist treatment at the Ballarat Veterinary Clinic.
With Darren Weir subsequently banned from racing the owners of Kings Will Dream were faced with the decision of selecting a new trainer and settled on Waller to guide the rising 6YO through his comeback.
Kings Will Dream takes the first step this week when he enters Waller’s Rosehill stables to begin a patient build up to a spring campaign.
Waller also has a box set aside for another important newcomer to his team.
Covent Garden, a rising 2YO half-sister by Exceed And Excel to his recently retired champion mare Winx, has just completed her breaking-in and pre-training process with Matt Vella at Hawkesbury and is heading to the Waller stable for her first preparation.
WInx’s breeder John Camilleri has retained the filly and is excited about her potential.
"She's a beautiful filly. She oozes quality,” Camilleri said. “She ticks every box and she's got a pedigree to boot.
"You dream of these families and getting a nice filly that's well put together. They are not in any catalogues, they are rare commodities."
Covent Garden is likely to be turned out again after her first stint in the Waller stable with Camilleri expecting her to debut as a late 2YO or early 3YO.
