Waller’s winter groundwork sowing seeds for bountiful spring
By Chris Roots
Premier trainer Chris Waller will have more than 50 runners across Australia this weekend with 20 different jockeys, but as always there are one or two that stand out to him for different reasons.
The planning and size of the Waller operation, which has five stables across three states, is remarkable. He is closing on 250 wins for the season, including 12 group 1 victories, but it’s sometimes the emerging group that are as important as those racing at the top level.
Waterford has found form this winter and could earn a trip to Brisbane with a win in the Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill.Credit: Getty
Waller has 25 runners at Rosehill on Saturday and is just as excited about Lord Mayor’s Cup favourite Waterford, emerging stayer Unusual Legacy and two-year-old Emirate as he is about his half-dozen group 1 runners in Brisbane.
“It is the time of year where we are looking to bring through horses that are going to be racing in better races in the spring,� Waller said. “We’re getting their ratings up;, it is about planning.
“Unusual Legacy is a good stayer on the way up and we need to get his rating up for a race like the Metropolitan in spring. It’s a good time to do that.
“It has been good to see Waterford start winning, and he could be one to go to Brisbane after Saturday because he has got a bit of confidence at this time of year. He has always been a nice horse, and it’s exciting to see him at 2000m.�
Waller has five two-year-olds in at Rosehill. Some are entered for the group 1 JJ Atkins, but for others it might be the last run of the preparation.
“Of the group, only Mr Artemisia might end up in the JJ, if he runs well,� Waller said.
“Emirate is probably the one I’m looking forward to most on the weekend.
“He is a speed horse and I think he is a shining star. He will go for a spell after Saturday win, lose or draw, and he will be in some nice three-year-old races later in the year.
“With the two-year-olds, I find it a good time of year for them. Horses like Winx and Funstar started off in the winter and got going before having really good careers.�
Waller will watch from Brisbane but knows every box is ticked and each of his jockeys has their instructions. It is a process that has been refined over the past 20 years.
“It is a lot of work and with our jockeys. We are booking them two weeks out and organising them to be on the right horses. You are always looking forward, and raceday takes care of itself,� Waller said.
“We have separate instructions for every jockey and make sure we are prepared for most things.
“You are letting it happen in front of you because the preparation has been there to let them all run well, and that’s what our owners expect.�
Espiona and Osipenko give Waller a presence in the group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup in Brisbane, and Tannhausser is the second pick in the Queensland Derby, where up to six stablemates could join him.
Osipenko chases another group 1 win in Brisbane.Credit: Getty
“Osipenko has been set for the Stradbroke, and this race is the lead-up after he missed a run a couple of weeks ago,� Waller said. “Espiona is having her last run of the campaign, and it would be good to see her get another group 1 win before coming back for the spring.�
Tannhausser is the biggest example of attention to detail in the Waller stable. He was gelded after running a luckless fourth in the Frank Packer Plate on April 20 and was back in the winner’s stall four weeks later in the Rough Habit Stakes.
“He is going to like getting out over the Derby trip [2400m] and it would be a great effort from the team if he was to win it,� Waller said.
“He has always been a good stayer and gets his chance to show it.�
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