Blueblood filly Mergeila can kick off ‘big future’ on right note for trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill Gardens

The champion trainer is excited for the future with Invincibella’s daughter Mergeila as she prepares to have her first race start on home turf this Saturday.

Trainer Chris Waller has high hopes for promising filly Mergeila. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Leading trainer Chris Waller has used the winter months to launch the careers of some of his best fillies and his latest smart prospect Mergeila could add her name to the list at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

While champion galloper Winx is the most notable, Waller has used the back end of the season as a spring springboard for the likes of Funstar, Madame Pommery and Joliestar in recent times.

Waller believes it won’t be until the autumn that Mergeila shows her best but will use Saturday as a guide where his promising talent could measure up in the coming months.

Mergeila kicks off her career in the Precise Air 2YO Handicap (1200m) after putting in the groundwork at home and at the trials over several preparations.

Lot 180, a fantastic filly by Justify (USA) out of Invincibella, offered by @CoolmoreAus sells to @YulongInvest for $750k #InglisEaster#BestOfTheBestpic.twitter.com/dY6St7EohT

— Inglis (@inglis_sales) April 3, 2023

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“With good horses you get good feedback consistently and we’ve got some great judges at home that are constantly telling me she has a bright future and does everything to please you,” Waller said.

“We could have run her last preparation, I think she was entered to race, but we decided to pull her out and give her a spell so that’s where we are now.”

Mergeila is a $9 chance with Tim Clark aboard.

The Justify filly, a $750,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale buy, is from a family that Waller knows well – she is out of his former Group 1 winning mare Invincibella.

A three-time winner on Magic Millions day, Invincibella enjoyed her crowning moment on the track when she claimed the 2019 Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara.

Invincibella!
The @cwallerracing mare fends off Pohutukawa in the shadow of the post to take out the Group 1 Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm! pic.twitter.com/dEap7wkXos

— TAB (@tabcomau) June 22, 2019

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“Mum got better as she got older,” Waller said.

“Early stages this filly is showing promise like mum, who got better at four and five. I think this filly is a good horse.”

Waller has an abundance of runners across the country on Saturday but will have a pair of outside chances in the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m).

His stable has won the Winter Challenge seven times already and has New Mandate ($19) and Otyrar ($101) lining up.

“New Mandate was a bit plain last start in Queensland,” Waller said.

“His first run was better but I just wanted to bring him back to Sydney and I think he will appreciate the give in the track. He needs to lift.

“Otyrar will be looking for a 2000m race in six weeks time.”

Originally published as Blueblood filly Mergeila can kick off ‘big future’ on right note for trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill Gardens