Search

show me:

Waller's Show Of Strength On Epsom Day

3 minute read

Chris Waller will have 13 starters in the three Group One races at Randwick on Saturday in a resounding show of strength by Sydney’s premier stable.

Waller’s numbers clearly overshadow the once dominant Gai Waterhouse team and sets a standard that hasn’t been seen since her late father Tommy Smith reigned over Sydney racing.

Waller is seeking a fourth successive win in the $1 million Epsom Handicap, a sequence that has ended Waterhouse’s 15-year dominance of the race.

Hugh Bowman with Chris Waller
Hugh Bowman with Chris Waller Picture: Racing and Sports

Waterhouse won the Epsom seven times between 1997 and 2012, a number that equalled the record set by her father.

Waller has won the $750,000 ATC Metropolitan only twice, still six behind Waterhouse’s record eight wins and five less than Smith’s seven, but his six acceptors in this year’s field is a telling example of the shift in stable strength in recent seasons.

Waterhouse, now in partnership with Adrian Bott, has one acceptor in each of three G1 features at Randwick on Saturday.

They saddle the improving Fabrizio in the Epsom, Dee I Cee in the Metropolitan and Global Glamour in the $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m), a race Waterhouse has won eight times but still well behind her father’s amazing record of 13 wins.

Waller is yet to win a Flight Stakes but this year’s edition is a showcase for his stable with the premier trainer providing three of the eight acceptors.

With such dominant numbers Waller will be counting on the day to provide the early impetus he needs to rival the stunning Group One results he has achieved over the last two seasons.

In 2014/15 Waller won 14 G1 races, the most since John Hawkes won 12 in 2002-03, and went one better last season when he won 15 majors.

He won his first G1 race this season - and 63rd of his career - when champion mare Winx raced away with the George Main Stakes at Randwick on September 17.

McCreery
McCreery Picture: Racing and Sports

Waller ended last season with a Sydney record of 169 wins among his overall total of 281 wins around Australia.

To beat his Sydney record Waller needs to average 14 metropolitan wins a month. He is on record pace after the first two months of the season with 31 wins to his credit.

With his big numbers and low weight limits Waller has had to call a wide spread of jockeys for his runners in Saturday’s feature treble.

They include interstate riders Craig Williams and Craig Newitt and Singapore-based Glen Boss.

Newitt will ride G1 winner Vanbrugh in the Epsom and Junoob in the Metropolitan. Williams takes the mount on Grand Marshal in the Metropolitan.

Waller’s other Epsom starters are G2 Theo Marks Stakes winner Mackintosh (Tommy Berry), G3 Kingston Town Stakes winner McCreery (Kerrin McEvoy) and Torgersen (Kathy O’Hara).

Glen Boss, who has won two Doncaster Miles for Waller on Triple Honour in 2007 and Kermadec in 2015, has landed the ride on early favourite Antonio Giuseppe due to the stayer’s light weight of 51kg.

Waller’s other Metropolitan runners are Who Shot Thebarman (Hugh Bowman), Storm The Stars (Brenton Avdulla), Sacred Master (Tommy Berry), Grand Marshal and Junoob, the stayer who was disqualified as the winner in 2014 after a positive swab that cost Waller a $30,000 fine.

Omei Swordi
Omei Swordi Picture: Racing and Sports

The impressive filly Omei Sword (Hugh Bowman) heads Waller’s list of three starters in the Flight Stakes.

Bowman takes the ride after Waller elected to bypass the race with Foxplay, the winner of the G2 Furious Stakes and G2 Tea Rose Stakes at her last two starts.

Foxplay heads to Melbourne for next week’s G1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield, leaving n]Sezanne and (Awoke) to support Omei Sword.
Racing and Sports
Chris Waller Preview - October 1

What’s gambling really costing you?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au