Chris Waller sees irony in Tannhauser’s improvement after cruellest cut of all: ‘He’s jumped out of the ground’
Chris Waller concedes Autumn Angel is an almighty object to overcome in the Queensland Derby on Saturday but says his newly cut gelding has the upside to tackle the $1m Group 1 feature at Eagle Farm.
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Chris Waller can’t help but see the irony of his leading Queensland Derby chance Tannhauser finally delivering on his potential after being gelded as he looks to add his fourth edition of the race to his collection in the space of 11 years.
Tannhauser was an impressive winner of the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) a fortnight ago in his first start since receiving the snip and will subsequently be sold by his connections, who are on the hunt for stallion prospects.
With a handful of runners in the race, Waller says Tannhauser is a clear top seed and believes the $1m contest is the perfect race for the gelding being later in the season.
It's @cwallerracing and @mcacajamez to finish the day at Doomben!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 18, 2024
Tannhauser a bit too strong late and wins the G3 Rough Habit Plate beating Autumn Angel and Kintyre. pic.twitter.com/fvfxI47zAg
“The beauty of the Queensland Derby is that it gives all horses a chance to mature properly and he is a case in point,” Waller said.
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“It took him time to work everything out, yes he showed ability as a two-year-old, he ran third in the JJ Atkins last year, and he has been thereabouts since.
“He’s been gelded since then and jumped out of the ground the other day (in the Rough Habit).
“He has been a frustrating horse in the sense he hasn’t cracked it in a big one, so it’s ironic that he’s been gelded and come out and won like that.”
Waller admits he is in awe of race favourite Autumn Angel, saying she is the perfect filly to take on the boys as she looks to be the first to win the race in 14 years.
Just nine fillies have won the Queensland Derby in 50 years.
“She is a filly that is proven at the distance and gee she was dominant in the (ATC) Oaks over this trip, she is almighty hard to beat,” Waller said.
“When you get to 2400m, it is a different distance, I thought a couple of mine like Kirikan and Kadavar could have been better in their lead-up runs, so we have been on the back foot with a few of them while Tannhauser has announced himself as the top seed.”
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Waller is also bullish of Espiona turning the tables on Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) after being forced to do it the hard way in the Doomben 10,000 a fortnight ago.
“She was very good in the 10,000, back and had to come around them, she was good late,” he said.
“Every run this prep, she’s been within — in my eyes — a length of the winner of every Group 1 race. Osipenko is fresh, but drops to 52kg in the Stradbroke so I would say that is more his race.”
Originally published as Chris Waller sees irony in Tannhauser’s improvement after cruellest cut of all: ‘He’s jumped out of the ground’
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