At The Track: Chris Waller wary of coronavirus impact on racing
The biggest stables in Australia will likely be hit from coronavirus and Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller is already taking precautions with his staff.
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The biggest stables in Australia will likely be hit from coronavirus and Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller is quite worried about the situation that is developing.
Waller’s a smart man, not just a great trainer, and he knows just how bad things could get.
“I’m very cautious because I can’t afford my staff to get ill,” he said. “We’re very nervous and are aware of how bad it’s going to get and have measures in place.
“We took temperatures of all our staff on Saturday morning to get a fix on where they’re at. We had temperature guns to their heads. That gave them comfort knowing they don’t have a temperature.” He knows those good results probably won’t last for long though.
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Still on the coronavirus. Racing has a large amount of punters visit the track each week in the age category of 60 and above. And a large percentage of the Rosehill crowd on Saturday was still in that age category despite it being the most vulnerable for suffering the worst effects of the virus.
COUNTRY LIFE SUITS SINGO
At The Track has spoken to more than one provincial trainer who has considered doing a Scott Singleton and moving to the country to train. He has had six winners since leaving Hawkesbury to set up base at Scone.
“We could probably win three races out here for every one race at Hawkesbury,” Singleton said. “It’s so expensive in town. If they’re not a Group horse do you really want to spend $5000 a month to have a horse that’s going around in Class 1 races at the provincials.
“It’s a struggle to compete with the Wallers and trainers like that with the sort of cattle they’ve got.”
Singleton now can target weekly $75,000 Highway races with promising horses coming through the grades. Then there’s the Country Championships and $1.3 million Kosciuszko to target. He said the fact that country areas have received so much in terms of prizemoney increases and new rich races helped his future decision making.
“It made a difference,” he said. “You can train from the bush now and not have to eat the paint off the walls. With the exception of Kris Lees, everyone else at the provincials aren’t winning in town on a Saturday. There’s a race at Armidale in a couple of weeks with a $50,000 bonus and I can’t wait until I’m eligible for the Highways in late April.”
SLICK WORK
Chris Waller will look to take out The Galaxy and Golden Slipper next week with a pair of horses that galloped between races at Rosehill on Saturday. Madam Rouge and Hungry Heart put in some nice work.
“Madam Rouge is where we need her to be for The Galaxy and Hungry Heart (Golden Slipper) has done everything right since her first run and today helped keep her stimulated,” Waller said.
“She worked with an Open class horse which is always a good sign and they seemed to rolling well in the last 200m. I see her as a very good Flight Stakes filly and we’ll assess things after the Slipper.”
Here's @cwallerracing's Hungry Heart (green) and Madam Rouge (lime) in their gallop @rosehillgardens earlier today pic.twitter.com/iWflB66vON
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 14, 2020
Another Slipper contender Mamaragan had a hit out at Rosehill between races and trainer John Thompson couldn’t hide his joy with the horse, who hasn’t put a foot wrong from day one. The debutant Skyline Stakes winner galloped with proven top liner Dreamforce who is heading toward the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes next week.
“It was good work. He clicked the two-year-old up in that last little bit and he’s definitely come on since the debut win and I’m very happy,” Thompson said. It helped settle his mood after Sweet Deal’s withdrawal from the Coolmore Classic due to a stone bruise. “If the race was on Monday she would have been fine,” Thompson said.
.@JTRacingRwik pair Dreamforce (orange) and Mamaragan (pink) galloped @rosehillgardens earlier today pic.twitter.com/kan5FuzF9O
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 14, 2020
SAM BACK IN GROOVE
It was good to see Sam Clipperton win his first Saturday race (Zoffany’s Lad) since coming back to riding from a self-imposed break which he needed to get his career back in track.
“I had been riding a few at the provincials and I’ve got a lot of confidence in my ability again and am starting to believe in myself again,” he said. “I was a bit fried from the move back (from Hong Kong). There was a couple of moments when I thought enough is enough and I needed to fix myself and get myself right and I’m really happy now.”
ON THE MONEY
One of the first bets written in the first race at Rosehill on Saturday was for Zoffany’s Lad when markets opened on the Wednesday. The bet was $2000 x $5000 each way at $16/$5, for a collect of $57,000. Meanwhile, a $5000 bet at $8 on Miami Bound to win the Australian Oaks was also taken.
HORSES TO FOLLOW: Miss Fabulass (super in unsuitable ground), Yulong Prince (flying) I Am Swerving (Team Hawkes will find a race for him to win)
ONES TO SACK: Pohutukawa (promises a lot but not delivering), Wren’s Day (couldn’t win at Gosford on Saturday)
RIDE OF THE DAY: Sam Clipperton on Zoffany’s Lad (got it into perfect spot from wide gate)
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “For two days I had the winner on top (Parry Sound). At the last minute I switched to the odds-on favourite (Wren’s Day),” Sky’s Gary Harley said after the fourth at Gosford when Parry Sound beat Wren’s Day.