Don’t drop off: Chris Waller’s glowing Kovalica endorsement ahead of Doomben Cup showdown
It has almost been 12 months since Kovalica entered the winners’ enclosure, but his champion trainer believes he’s finally hitting his straps as he steps up in distance in the Group 1 Doomben Cup.
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Chris Waller has urged punters not to jump off Kovalica, as the Group 1 winner hits his straps ahead of a return to a happy hunting ground in the $1 million Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
Kovalica hasn’t entered the winners’ enclosure since his Group 1 victory in the Queensland Derby last year, however Waller says he’s in his sweet spot tackling the Doomben Cup, where he is a $3.20 favourite after running third as a three-year-old last year.
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After running third on a bottomless track at the Sunshine Coast in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m), Waller believes his charge will appreciate being back on top of the ground at Doomben.
A beautiful barrier in gate 3 has also helped his and jockey Nash Rawiller’s cause.
“It is 2000m and hopefully a good track,” Waller said.
“There is no reason to be dropping off him.
“We were pretty happy with him (in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes). After the Queensland Derby last year, we decided to go the shorter route with him, he just missed in an Epsom (1600m) by a nose and then went to the Golden Eagle and things didn’t work out.
“Now we are back in the swing of things over 2000m, hopefully onto the Q22 (2200m) after that as well.
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“He goes well everywhere, he has never had an issue, he has no soreness or anything like that, he just needs a bit of distance.”
After a disappointing run in the Hollindale, Huetor is looking to join the great Rough Habit by winning the Doomben Cup three consecutive times.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained stayer is a $7 chance with TAB to return to his winning ways, where he has defeated Zaaki the past two years.
Originally published as Don’t drop off: Chris Waller’s glowing Kovalica endorsement ahead of Doomben Cup showdown
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