Chris Waller gives hobby trainer Craig Cousins reason to believe he can complete Stradbroke Handicap fairytale

Larrikin trainer Craig Cousins, who has only three horses in work, has extra confidence in his Stradbroke horse The Inflictor after a chance encounter with Chris Waller.

Trainer Craig Cousins (top left), received some encouraging words from trainer Chris Waller (bottom left) about his Stradbroke Handicap contender The Inflictor. Pictures: Trackside Photography, Getty Images

As he counts down the days to a fairytale crack at the 2025 Stradbroke Handicap, larrikin Brisbane hobby trainer Craig Cousins has the words of Chris Waller ringing in his ears.

It will be a David versus Goliath battle in the Stradbroke as 60-year-old Cousins, who only has three horses in work, takes on some of racing’s biggest names.

Cousins knows he has a good horse and a good Stradbroke chance with home-bred hero The Inflictor, who is a $15 chance in Queensland’s most prestigious race on Saturday week.

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The Inflictor qualified for the Stradbroke by scoring a golden ticket when winning The Gateway at Eagle Farm and he rubber-stamped his claims by scoring at Doomben last month with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

Enter Waller, who has infused Cousins with extra confidence and belief heading into the $3m Stradbroke.

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“I had never met Chris Waller before, I had just seen him from a distance and that was about it,” Cousins said.

“He’s obviously a master at what he does.

“I was walking around after the race the other day and I heard someone yelling, ‘Craig, Craig’.

“I recognised the voice and it was Chris Waller. He shook my hand and congratulated me.

“Chris said, ‘this is what racing is about, this is a great story’. He said he wished me all the best for the Stradbroke.

“I told Chris he would probably have a good Stradbroke horse himself.

“He said, ‘don’t worry about mine Craig, yours is a genuine chance’.”

The Inflictor dominates Race 2 at Doomben! 💪 @nashhotpic.twitter.com/VDvywPyYXw

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025

Four-year-old The Inflictor has won $499,000 in prizemoney and will add another $1.8m to that haul if he scores the Group 1 Stradbroke at Eagle Farm.

It would be one of the greatest stories in Stradbroke history.

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Cousins juggles his day job as a truck driver with his work training horses but will put the handbrakes on the truck driving job next week so he can enjoy Stradbroke week.

He has even bought himself a new suit for Stradbroke week and several new ties.

He plans to lap up the week and go to Breakfast With The Stars at Eagle Farm on Tuesday as well as the barrier draw function at The Star on Tuesday night.

“Life wouldn’t change too much if I won the Stradbroke, but it would be a bloody good feeling,” Cousins said.

“My horse’s win the other day was really impressive, I didn’t realise how impressive it was until I watched a replay later.

“I can only have three horses at the one time, if I have any more it’s too hard doing it one-out.

“I do get an occasional hand off different friends, but most of the time it’s just me.

“This horse will have a red-hot go in the Stradbroke.”

Originally published as Chris Waller gives hobby trainer Craig Cousins reason to believe he can complete Stradbroke Handicap fairytale