Chris Waller taken by Leica Lucy’s winning statement

Champion trainer Chris Waller liked what he saw with his soon to be addition, star Kiwi filly Leica Lucy when winning the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Chris Waller will take over the trainer of Leica Lucy after the New Zealand Oaks. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Champion trainer Chris Waller liked what he saw with his soon to be addition, star Kiwi filly Leica Lucy when winning the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Earlier this week Racenet revealed the daughter of Derryn would join the Waller camp after prominent Victorian owner Ozzie Kheir joined the ownership group.

The plan is for Leica Lucy to contest the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 22 before travelling to Australia.

Waller witnessed the performance in the Randwick trainers’ room and the filly had to overcome an impeded path in the straight before her class kicked in and she strode clear late to improve her record to four wins from five starts.

“She was going to have been unlucky not to have won,” Waller said. “She’s obviously very talented.

“Hopefully she arrives here in good shape and we will be able to run her again.

“We’d like to run her in the (Australian) Oaks but she will come first and we’ll assess her when she gets here.”

Leica Lucy has been installed at $10 for the Australian Oaks which will be run at Randwick on April 12.

Zig-zag-zig-zag, there's a gap somewhere!

Leica Lucy is a very good horse and in Race 4 from @TeRapaRacing, she eventually got out of the pocket and was just too good for her rivals. Class prevailed!

Ridden to win by @CraigGrylls and trained by @PattersonStablepic.twitter.com/zyvbTKbGE5

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) February 8, 2025

Leica Lucy’s current trainer Robbie Patterson told the LOVERACING.NZ News Desk that the filly will have two more New Zealand runs before he hands over the reins.

“I’ve just got so much confidence in the horse,” he said. “I’ve never had a horse that gives me this much confidence.

“Everything she does is just so professional. She’s just great.

“She’ll go back to Trentham, where she loves the big, roomy track.

READ: Aussie triumph in NZ Group 1 sprint showdown

“It’s three weeks from today into the Lowland, and another three weeks into the Oaks.

“After that, she’ll go across to Chris Waller.

“I might give Chris a ring and give him a bit of advice! But, no, Chris is going to get a lovely filly and I’m just so rapt for the owners.”

The Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2000m) is on March 2 while Leica Lucy is the $2.20 favourite with local bookies for the New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Both races are at Trentham.

Originally published as Chris Waller taken by Leica Lucy’s winning statement