Trainer Chris Waller poised for another stunning year thanks to growing talent pool
Chris Waller’s vast arsenal of talented horse flesh shows no signs of diminishing despite the retirement of all-time great Winx with the champion trainer poised for another remarkable autumn.
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Chris Waller, the nation’s champion Group 1 trainer, might have more proven topliners in his stable than ever before but it is the unknown equine talent that excites him most before the autumn carnival.
The retirement of all-time great Winx last year hasn’t slowed Waller’s big-race winning momentum this season.
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He has produced the likes of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, brilliant sprinter Nature Strip, Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle hero Kolding and outstanding filly Funstar, among many others.
But Waller is also expecting big things from his mainly untested team of two-year-olds, if not this autumn then certainly next year.
“The stable has a new brigade of Group 1 horses coming through like Funstar, Kolding, Yes Yes Yes, but what I am most excited about is our two-year-olds,’’ Waller said.
“We have a good crop of two-year-olds but we won’t see them at their best until next year. I feel they are the best crop of two-year-olds I have ever had.’’
Waller has never trained a Golden Slipper winner but one of his main hopes for the race this autumn, unbeaten Breeders Plate winner Global Quest, is set to barrier trial at Randwick on Thursday.
“The Golden Slipper is right up there as one of the races I want to win but it will have to be with a brilliant, ready-made two-year-old,’’ Waller said.
“We are not going to change anything with how we train our young horses.’’
Waller is sending some promising, emerging carnival hopes to the trials on Thursday, including Kubrick, Reloaded and Shared Ambition.
The Hall of Fame trainer said many of his proven Group 1 horses were scheduled to barrier trial next week, including Kolding, King’s Will Dream, Danzdanzdance, Night’s Watch, Youngstar and Wu Gok.
Yes Yes Yes and Nature Strip aren’t due to trial until later this month. Waller said both sprinters were being aimed at races like the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick during The Championshps in April before being sent to England to race at Royal Ascot in June.
“Yes Yes Yes is going very well,’’ Waller said. “He’s come back a stronger, more mature three-year-old.
“He is due to trial on the 21st and will resume in the Eskimo Prince or the Lightning. I haven’t decided yet.
“I have to work out what weight he is likely to get in the Newmarket but the TJ Smith Stakes is a definite target. The TJ seems the logical last run in Australia before I prepare him for (Royal) Ascot.’’
Nature Strip will also trial later this month and then resume in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington, particularly as he is so dynamic racing on the track’s straight course.
“He is also going to Royal Ascot,’’ Waller said of Nature Strip.
“I suggested to take Nature Strip last year but the owners, to their credit, said no as we have great prizemoney in Australia. Look what he has done since and now they are keen to go.
“At this stage, I would say Nature Strip is likely to run in the King’s Stand and Yes Yes Yes will be set for the Diamond Jubilee.’’
Waller dismissed giving Yes Yes Yes or Nature Strip an extended European sprint campaign. Both are likely to line up in the $15 million The Everest at Randwick in October.
“The power of The Everest will get them on the plane pretty quickly,’’ he said.
Kolding emerged as a potential superstar last spring and Waller believes the four-year-old can continue to improve this year.
“He’s an interesting horse as he just keeps getting better,’’ Waller said of Kolding.
“The best thing about his win in the Golden Eagle was how he won it. He was very explosive.
“I’ve got a slight leaning to the All Star Mile but how do you set a horse for the race if you don’t know he will get a start?
“I think they probably need to give people an indication what wildcards they are going to use.
“So, unless I have a good indication he is going to get a start in the race we can stay home and target the Apollo Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes and George Ryder Stakes, which I don’t mind.
“If he was to go to the All Star Mile, I would run him in the Orr Stakes as the All Star Mile is at Caulfield this year.’’
Funstar won the Flight Stakes to cap a stellar spring campaign and it seems the sky is the limit for the three-year-old filly.
Waller isn’t in any rush with Funstar but said she would resume in the Group 1 Surround Stakes on February 29.
“I don’t know how good she is,’’ he said. “There are a lot of unknowns with Funstar. I don’t even know what her best distance will be but I do know she is very good.”
Waller also nominated some of his stable’s second-tier gallopers who he believes can make their marks during the Sydney autumn carnival.
“I still have a soft spot for Reloaded, who everyone has forgotten about,’’ he said.
“I think he can come back and be one of our main Guineas horses and a Doncaster horse. He will go to the Eskimo Prince and Hobartville, then into the Guineas.
“Shared Ambition is going to have to do it a bit tougher through the handicaps to prove himself but he is promising. Verry Ellegant has returned better mentally and physically.’’
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