Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher in race to be the first trainer to hit $50 million prizemoney record
Leading trainers Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher continue to rewrite history and the next chapter of their storeyed careers is the race to a new prizemoney record.
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Champion trainers Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are in a match race to become the first to smash the $50 million prizemoney barrier in a season.
With just over three months of the 2023-24 season, Waller has prepared the winners of $44.2 million and leads in his quest to be leading stakes-winning trainer for the 12th consecutive season.
But Maher’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes-Sydney Cup double with Pride Of Jenni and Circle Of Fire at Royal Randwick last week has taken his stable earnings to $42.3 million, which is already a career-best return.
Waller’s holds the all-time record for a season with prizemoney of $49.8 million set in 2021-22.
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These staggering stable stakes totals are a reflection of the modern era prizemoney surge in Australian racing.
In the last five years, prizemoney around the nation has soared 45 per cent, according to figures released by Aushorse.
There are nearly 100 races worth $1 million or more in Australia this year with average prizemoney per race now just over $50,000.
Only 40 years ago, the legendary Bart Cummings became the first trainer to prepare the winners of $1 million prizemoney in a season.
It was a remarkable day in Australian racing because less than two hours after Cummings passed the milestone when Hello Honey ran second in a minor Warwick Farm race, the trainer’s great rival, Tommy Smith also broke the $1 million barrier when Igloo won the Brisbane Cup.
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The prizemoney race between Waller and Maher is also likely to go right down to the wire – the season ends on July 31 – with both trainers having a representation around the nation on Saturday.
âThe ride of the century @decbates!â
â SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2024
Pride Of Jenni leads by a huge margin and wins the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in a bold front running display, in one of the most epic wins at Randwick ever!@aus_turf_club@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/33Ejus8VL3
Waller has 12 starters in seven races at Royal Randwick on Saturday including brilliant mare Espiona, the $3.80 TAB favourite for the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Sydney’s reigning premier trainers also has Tannhauser as the $3.10 favourite for the Group 3 $250,000 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) and Kazou at $2.90 favourite for the Petaluma Handicap (1200m).
Waller’s win with Zougotcha in the Queen of the Turf Stakes last week was his 12th major of the season and he is on track to retain the leading Group 1 trainer title he has held since 2012-13.
Espiona shows her class in The Invitation!
â SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 28, 2023
Despite her quirks @KPMcEvoy is able to steer the @cwallerracing trained mare to victory! pic.twitter.com/dc9BVgSALU
But Maher, who has seven Group 1 wins for the season, leads Waller for most overall wins and is also a real chance of claiming the prizemoney honour.
Maher, who prepared his 250th winner for the season when Here The Crowd won at Caulfield on Wednesday, has a sizeable lead over Waller who is on 207 wins.
At Royal Randwick, Maher has eight starters across four races including classy three-year-olds Southport Tycoon and Tiz Invincible in the All Aged Stakes.
The Maher-trained New Energy is the $4 favourite for the Group 3 $250,000 JRA Plate (2000m) and stablemate Jimmysstar is at the top of betting at $3.10 for the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1400m).
Maher has 14 runners in eight races at Mornington including Perspiration ($2.40 favourite) for the $150,000 Mornington Sires, and stayers Strawberry Rock ($7), Future History ($9.50) and United Nations ($23) clash in the Listed $300,000 Mornington Cup (2400m).
Bella Nipotina, Maher’s top class sprinting mare, is one of the main chances in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot, a big money race where Waller does not have a runner.
CHRIS WALLER v CIARON MAHER
2023-24 season (As of Thursday, April 18)
■ Prizemoney
Waller $44.2 million
Maher $42.3 million
■ Most Group 1 Wins
Waller 12
Maher 7
■ Most Wins
Maher 250
Waller 207
Originally published as Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher in race to be the first trainer to hit $50 million prizemoney record