Trainer Chris Waller names Warwick Farm stable Tie The Knot in touching tribute to Guy Walter

CHRIS Waller has paid tribute to Guy Walter by naming his new Warwick Farm stables “Tie The Knot Lodge”.

SMSPORTS_Race 7 Oaks Winner WINX, ridden by Hugh Bowman, trained by Chris J Waller and owned by Debbie Kepitis Saturday May 30th, 2015

CHRIS Waller has paid tribute to Guy Walter by naming his new Warwick Farm stables “Tie The Knot Lodge”.

Walter trained out of those Warwick Farm stables for more than 30 years until he died from a massive heart attack in May of last year.

Walter prepared many champions from those stables but none greater than Tie The Knot, winner of 13 Group 1 races and more than $6 million prizemoney.

Waller has had a plaque mounted at his new stable which reads: “Tie The Knot Lodge - in memory of Guy Walter”.

Tie the Knot with Shane Dye aboard.

Walter’s widow, Wendy, said she was very moved by Waller’s gesture.

“I thought it was a wonderful thing that Chris has done,’’ Mrs Walter said.

“It has been just over a year since Guy’s passing and it is still very hard at times so it is special for Chris to do this in honour of Guy.’’

Sydney’s premier trainer negotiated the purchase of the Warwick Farm stables from Mrs Walter and opened the satellite stable last week.

Waller said he intends to have around 20 horses trained out at Warwick Farm.

“I am going to use the stables at Warwick Farm to train horses who I feel may benefit from a change of environment like Hawkspur,’’ Waller said.

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THE Horse of the Year award is the most open in years.

There was no dominant champion during 2014-15 although Dissident’s total of four Group 1 wins - Memsie Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes, Orr Stakes and All Aged Stakes) - is double that of the nation’s other premier big-race performers.

Angelic Light and Lankan Rupee.

But Dissident was beaten in another four races so did he do enough to sway voters?

Similarly, dual Group 1 winners Lankan Rupee and Brazen Beau were beaten in more races than they won, while Contributer only lost once in five starts but only two were at Group 1 level.

Does this leave the door open to Vancouver, unbeaten in four starts, including the Golden Slipper?

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Trainer Chris Waller during Warwick Farm races. Pic Mark Evans

AN analysis of the nation’s Group 1 races this season shows that NSW holds the balance of Power.

NSW trainers prepared 36 of the 71 major race winners with Chris Waller leading the way with 14 wins, Gai Waterhouse had seven and Peter and Paul Snowden on five.

Hugh Bowman was the nation’s leading Group 1 rider with nine winners as NSW jockeys won 33 majors.

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IS there anything Paul Messara can’t do?

The former top rugby player, Group 1-winning trainer and manager of Arrowfield Stud won the NSW Jujitsu Championship for the 35-40 age group in Sydney last weekend.

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Alison Threadwell on Camalita.

NEWCASTLE jockey Alison Threadwell makes her latest comeback from serious injury with two rides at Cessnock today.

Threadwell has been out of race riding for four months while recovering from a broken shoulder and collarbone sustained in a race fall back in March.

The tenacious Threadwell simply refuses to give up on riding career.

In 2010, doctors said she would never ride again after fracturing her T-12 vertebra but 18 months later she was back in the saddle.

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THE Rosehill track played fairly last Saturday despite the heavy track conditions and not surprisingly, those horses that had been racing well through the winter dominated.

Last start winners Soviet Courage, Japonisme, Berry Delicious, Shiraz and Forget all won again, Alegria and Marenostro came off luckless runs to win well, and Rugged Cross followed a string of consistent runs with a Winter Stakes triumph.

My colleague, John Sibbald, stuck with the proven wet-trackers and selected seven of the eight winners. His other selection, King’s Troop was a good second on debut to Japonisme.

SATURDAY SNAPSHOT — ROSEHILL GARDENS

RUN OF THE DAY

Hugh Bowman on Shiraz.

Shiraz was dominant - again. His first-up win at Rosehill two weeks ago was outstanding but last Saturday’s effort was even better. He was up 4kg this time but settled nicely outside the leader until the top of the straight before racing away to win with ease. Shiraz is flying this preparation and can keep winning. Forget’s effort to shoulder 60.5kg and win with authority is also worthy of mention.

FORGET THEY RAN

Scratch Me Lucky blew the start by at least four lengths and was basically out of the contest after a few strides. He eventually caught the field on the turn and continued his surge to run a very good fourth behind Forget. A Group 1 placegetter last season, Scratch Me Lucky has struggled to find form since but this effort indicated he is close to finding top form again.

Voilier was first-up without a barrier trial and looked above himself in condition when he ran fourth behind Japonisme on an unsuitable heavy track. Voilier was wide and looked under pressure before the turn but he did work to the line well.

THE BLACK BOOK

King’s Troop was backed as if unbeatable on debut and ran gamely when second. He showed good speed early, led for home and didn’t shirk his task when the race-fit Japonisme came through along the inside to win. King’s Troop has plenty of scope for improvement and looks an emerging sprinting talent.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Brenton Avdulla produced a brilliant tactical ride on Rugged Cross to win the Winter Stakes. Rugged Cross needs to be ridden with cover and has a short, but powerful sprint. Avdulla didn’t expose Rugged Cross until nearing the 100m and with precise timing “ambushed” the game Two Blue in the final stride.

Originally published as Trainer Chris Waller names Warwick Farm stable Tie The Knot in touching tribute to Guy Walter