Waterford headlines Chris Waller’s three-pronged Lord Mayors Cup assault at Rosehill Gardens

Trainer Chris Waller has Waterford, Political Debate and Foniska ready to tackle the Listed $200,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Trainer Chris Waller has Waterford back going as well as ever and is hoping the decision to remain at home will deliver his stable a fifth Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

Waterford is the headliner of a Waller triple threat in the Lord Mayors Cup with stablemates Political Debate and Foniska also lining up/

Waller made the decision to run Waterford ‘in his own backyard’ after the gelding also drew wide in Queensland’s version of the Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.

Waterford is midway through a strong preparation already with a first up victory at Rosehill Gardens followed up by a close second to Sky Lab in the Listed Scone Cup.

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It's a boil over in the Scone Cup! 💥

Sky Lab sailed down the outside to win the Scone Cup at big odds in a photo finish for @perry_racing1! pic.twitter.com/v29IeA1SiL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2024

“Waterford has come back really well,” Waller said.

“He was a bit stiff in the Scone Cup but he ran well and his start before that was good when he won at Rosehill.”

It’s been close to two years since stablemate Political Debate chalked up his first and only victory in the Listed The Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm of 2022.

A Group 1 placegetter, Political Debate went close to breaking his winning drought two starts ago with a second in the Wagga Gold Cup before finishing midfield last start in a 2000m event at Royal Randwick.

“Nothing ran on in his race last start and that’s the reason for backing him up, he didn’t have a tough run,” Waller said.

“He’s got a tricky draw again, but has a lightweight and hopefully it’s a different type of race this week.”

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Political Debate (navy blue) last won close to two years ago. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography.

Alysha Collett has been tasked with navigating a path from barrier eight on Political Debate ($10).

Foniska is another overseas purchase for growing breeding powerhouse Yulong.

The daughter of Galileo was a winner of the Listed Navigation Stakes (1609m) at Cork last year before moving to Australia in 2024.

Foniska failed to beat a runner home in a 1500m event at Rosehill Gardens on April 27 but Waller believes the mare is capable of an improved effort this weekend.

“I think Foniska might appreciate a wet track,” Waller said.

“She won a Listed race at Cork on a heavy track. She’s just taken a bit of time to acclimatise but i would expect some improvement on Saturday.”

Foniska is a $71 outsider with Reece Jones aboard.