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Start Wondering Debuts For Waller At Rosehill

3 minute read

There should be no wondering about the spring potential of a former Kiwi gelding after he makes his debut for the Chris Waller stable at Rosehill on Saturday.

Start Wondering
Start Wondering Picture: Race Images PN

Waller takes the wraps off Start Wondering, a talented five-year-old he has acquired from New Zealand, in the Clubs NSW BM 75 over 1350m.

It’s a low key start but Start Wondering could emerge as one of Waller’s spring stars judging by be the way he has performed in two barriers since he arrived in Sydney after building an impressive record in of four wins and three placings in eight NZ starts over distances from 1340m to 1600m..

The five-year-old, by little known Kiwi site Eighth Wonder, recorded three of his four wins at 1600m which suggests Waler will be eyeing off races like the Epsom Handicap, Toorak Handicap and Emirate Stakes for the gelding in the spring.

Start Wondering has had two barrier trials at Rosehill since he joined the Waller team in June and his ability has been obvious in the way he has performed in those two hit outs over 904m on July 7 and 900m on August 4.

He cruised to an easy 3.5 lengths win over accomplished Group performer Woodbine in his in first trial and then was given a soft time sitting behind the pace when a closing third in his second trial.

Both trials were on soft 6 tracks and while he has performed well on affected going reports suggest he is at his best on top of the ground.

Start Wondering was trained in NZ by former G1 winning jockey Paul Belsham for his Wanganui-based owner Steve Gudsell.

He was transferred to Waller after he bolted in by six lengths over 1340m at Wanganui on May 30 when having his first start for 11 weeks. Belsham unselfishly gave up the opportunity to bring him to Australia for a spring campaign due to his commitments in NZ.

“The horse deserves the opportunity to see what level he can get to over there,” Belsham said when the transfer to Waller was announced.

“He’s pretty good. I said to Steve he had a Group horse.”

Start Wondering’s sire Eighth Wonder is a full brother by Zabeel to AJC Derby winner Don Eduardo.

He raced just once for the Lee Freedman stable in 2008 before an early retirement to stud and has had only seven starters for three winners.

Racing and Sports

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