Waller weekly news 21 september 2017 The team celebrated plenty of winners this week, eight in fact with six of these at city level as things really ram up heading into the thick of carnival time. WINX again rewarded her fans at Randwick with another breath-taking victory at the highest level in the George Main on Saturday. Earning another honourable mention against the mighty mare was stable-mate Foxplay who added a Gr.1 placing to go with her three Gr.2 level wins and Gr.1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes victory in the autumn. Chris s knack for preparing horses to excel over the Randwick mile continues and the stable has dominated the George Main in recent years, winning it in five of the past six runnings starting with Shoot Out in 2012 then Sacred Falls in 2014, Kermadec in 2015 and Winx the past two years. Comin Through and Libran also recorded lucrative stakes-successes at Randwick, the latter leading home a stable firstfour, as we look towards loftier targets with both in the weeks ahead. We wish all of our connections the best of luck and a safe weekend! INSIDE THIS ISSUE WINNERs News & photos www.cwallerracing.com admin@cwallerracing.com +612 9760 5700
l CHRIS WALLER RACING - WINNERS THIS WEEK winx 6yo M Street Cry - Vegas Showgirl by Al Akbar The mighty mare made it 20 straight in the Group 1 George Main Stakes over the Randwick mile on Saturday. Her main man Hugh Bowman was in the saddle and as usual was at his brilliant best as he allowed her plenty of time to find her feet and work into the race. At the 800m mark he did seem to be a lot more anxious than is the norm on Winx as she hit a flat spot; however once she got balanced up and hit top gear in the straight she once again ran them down for another brilliant success at the highest level. libran 7yo G Lawman - True Crystal by Sadler s Wells Having run with plenty of merit first up in the Chelmsford behind Winx this talented Highclere import showed the benefit of that run when relishing the step up in trip to take out the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m at Randwick on Saturday. Glyn Schofield was on board and he rode the perfect race to suit Libran by burying him away at the tail of the field for the majority before steadily picking his way through the field and unleashing with a withering late burst between runners to hit the front inside the final furlong. It was a brilliant win which showed he is right back to his best. The win was made even more special by his three stablemates, Antonio Giuseppe, Life Less Ordinary and Who Shot Thebarman making up a first four for the team. comin Through 4yo H Fastnet Rock - Mica s Pride by Bite the Bullet This son of Fastnet Rock is often referred to as Criterion s younger brother but he is putting together an enviable record of his own and recorded another Group win at Randwick on Saturday when taking out the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Stakes over 1400m. Regular partner Michael Walker was once again engaged for the mount and he always had him travelling strongly outside the leader before taking over as they reached the famous Randwick rise. Just as it looked like Comin Through had things under control stablemate Tom Melbourne came with what looked like a winning charge but Walker conjured up a strong fight back from his mount and they were able to leave the gallant Tom Melbourne in second place - hopefully his turn in the winners circle will come before too long.
l exoteric 5yo G Champs Elysees - Short Dance by Hennessy This former UK galloper gained his initial Australian success when winning at Warwick Farm on Wednesday over 2200m. Glyn Schofield was in the saddle and he settled the son of Champs Élysées in fourth position early in the sevenrunner field before coming through towards the rail with his challenge in the straight for a gutsy success. lead choreographer 5yo G Sea The Stars - Evensong by Waky Nao This imported son of the great Sea The Stars showed the benefit of a recent spell when returning for a fresh up win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday over 1600m. Hugh Bowman was in the saddle and he settled the China Horse Club owned galloper towards the rear early on before coming with a sustained run in the straight for a narrow success which will hopefully give him plenty of confidence to build on this preparation. sparky lad 3yo G Smart Missile - Lady Hepburn by More Than Ready This gelded son of Smart Missile was another winner for the stable at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when sealing his maiden victory over 1400m. Brenton Avdulla was on board and he settled Sparky Lad in mid division early on before producing him with a well timed challenge inside the final furlong to score comfortably at the finish. the avenger 4yo G Smart Missile - Certain Promise by El Prado The Avenger was favourite in the last at Warwick Farm on Wednesday coming off an impressive maiden win at his previous start. Once the gates opened his jockey Kerrin McEvoy was able to get into a good spot just behind the speed and turning into the straight a run presented. McEvoy angled off the heels of the leader and into the clear with The Avenger hitting the front inside the last 400m, showing a gutsy attitude to hold off the runner up Regent who came with a determined challenge in the closing stages.
l bella galeano 7yo M Don Eduardo - Distinction by Honour Grades This gutsy mare rewarded the patience of owner Ross Alexander, our trusty Rosehill-based stable vet, when winning at Newcastle on Friday over 2300m. Bred by Ross, the daughter of Don Eduardo has always shown ability but has had a few issues to go with it and has required plenty of time and patience to return to her winning ways. Now a seven year old she is still relatively lightly raced with this being only her 20th start. She retains plenty of enthusiasm for the game as she showed on Friday under Kerrin McEvoy as she settled at the rear early before unleashing a strong late burst to get up close to home for a well deserved success. high dive 3yo C Excelebration - Rain Melody by Lonhro This striking chestnut colt by Coolmore s Excelebration broke his maiden at Kembla Grange on Sunday over 1200m with Corey Brown in the saddle. Sporting the colours of Mr Don Storey, who of course raced former stable favourite You ll Never among others, Brown gave this promising colt the gun run just behind the speed early on before coming with a sustained run in the home straight to score a nice confidence boosting victory. WATCH WINX S 60 MINUTES FEATURE The WINX feature aired on Sunday night on 60 Minutes Australia and their team have kindly uploaded the full clip to YouTube. Click on the image below to watch, or re-watch the piece. It s shot beautifully and with a nice cuppa it will be one of the best 15 minute blocks you can spend this week.
l Comin Through lays down credentials for Epsom challenge Criterion s half-brother Comin Through staved off maligned stablemate Tom Melbourne in a desperate finish to Saturday s Group III Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. Comin Through ($2.30 fav), prepared by Chris Waller, was courageous in victory after working overtime to sit outside the leader Burning Passion in a contest that finished 0.02 seconds outside of Landsighting s race record set in 2000. The son of Fastnet Rock prevailed by a long head as Tom Melbourne ($3.20) settled for a third consecutive second placing since switching to the Waller stable midyear. Mark Newnham s Burning Passion ($5.50) was close-up in third, beaten another half-head. Waller said Comin Through will have the chance to bolster his stallion resume when he lines up in the Group I Epsom Handicap (1600m) back at Randwick in a fortnight. I think that type of race will suit him. We took the risk of going four weeks between runs to make sure we kept a little bit of speed in him and most importantly still having him there for the Epsom in two weeks time with a bit of speed stepping up to the mile, Waller said. If he draws a good gate in the Epsom he will be very hard to beat. Winning jockey Michael Walker wasted to 53kg to fulfil the engagement and will likely have to be at a similar weight on the colt in two weeks time. He is a very good horse, he is the reason I got down to 53kg to make it today, Walker said. Hats off to Chris (Waller) he just placed this horse so well he thought he would leave four weeks between runs and that has probably won him the race, bring on the Epsom. Weights for the Epsom Handicap are due to be released on Monday. - Racenet.com.au Comin Through owner and breeder Sir Owen Glenn, Michael Walker and Chris. video preview Click on the image to the left to watch this week s video update with plenty of valuable insights into our runners this weekend from Charlie and Chris! chris waller strapper of the year awarded in NZ A touching tribute to Joanne Reynolds who was awarded the inaugural Chris Waller NZ Strapper of the Year award.
Waller wins another Kingston Town Stakes Resurgent galloper Libran gave Chris Waller his fourth consecutive Group III Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday. Waller saddled up five runners in the $150,000 contest, including $2.90 favourite Life Less Ordinary and $5 chance Antonio Giuseppe, but it was $26 pop Libran who stole the first prize in a stunning return to form. Libran had endured a lean autumn carnival, culminating in the calamitous Sydney Cup which was sensationally abandoned on the home corner after fallen runner Almoonqith was unable to be removed from the track. But Waller said Sydney s wet weather earlier this year was at the centre of Libran s decline in form despite the gelding hailing from the United Kingdom. He just went missing in that wet Autumn. This time last year he was going good, in fact he missed the Spring but wet tracks cost him, he is on good tracks now, he was ridden patiently in a funny run race, Waller said They took off at the 500m as if there was no tomorrow. He was ridden patiently and came home with a barnstorming run. He ran a very good race first-up and his work since then has been good. Heard him tipped in the morning on radio so obviously he caught the eye of some good judges. Antonio Giuseppe finished runner-up, 1-1/2 lengths astern of his less fancied stablemate, while Life Less Ordinary was a further half-length back in third completing a Waller trifecta. The result has seen Waller tighten his grip on the Group I Metropolitan (2400m) in two weeks time, with the Kingston Town Stakes trio joining Up n Rolling in the $750,000 event. Rider Glyn Schofield finished the meeting with a Group double, with Libran s win following Alizee s triumph in the Group II Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). - Racenet.com.au
WINX LEGEND CONTINUES TO GROW AS SHE ENJOYS THE GOOD TIMES WINX may not be appreciating the hard tracks, she has had three tough runs in succession, the earmuffs are dulling her race sense, she needs a longer distance. All these theories and more were floated after Winx turned imminent defeat into another remarkable and ultimately easy win in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick last Saturday. The champion mare has become thrilling, compelling theatre this spring as she defies logic to extend her famous winning streak. Amid all the confusion and euphoria of another Winx triumph last Saturday, her trainer Chris Waller was relaxed and confident after the race. And why wouldn t he be? Winx had just won her 20th race in succession, her 13th Group 1, to take her prizemoney to nearly $13.5 million. Rival trainers and jockeys trying to beat Winx are in awe of the great mare s ability, determination and acceleration. Blake Shinn, rider of Happy Clapper, felt his horse was travelling like a winner at the 400m and said it was a humbling experience when Winx sprinted past to win easing down. They gapped their rivals, with Foxplay nearly five lengths away in third. Jockey Brenton Avdulla described Foxplay as almost the best mare in the country because I don t call Winx a mare she s a freak. So, is Winx going as well as ever or is age, and her rivals, starting to catch up with her? A breakdown of her sectional times suggests Winx is still at the top of her game. She ran a race record time on Saturday, unleashing another tremendous surge to zoom past Happy Clapper, running her final 600m sectional in 33.54sec. Winx came home more than a full second faster than any of her rivals with the exception of Happy Clapper, who ran
34.04sec for the final 600m. But Winx hasn t been brilliant out of the barriers in each of her three starts this season and her rider, Hugh Bowman, was urging her along before the 800m. It seemed to take Winx an age to respond and pick up the bit. At one point, she looked to be struggling so much that I thought the horse must be McCreery, who races in similar colours. I even feared something may have gone wrong with Winx when suddenly she moved closer to Happy Clapper, Bowman took the great mare to the centre of the track and within two or three strides she had gained control of the race. Winx retains her fierce will-to-win and, when in full flight, her acceleration is unsurpassed. Importantly, Winx has pulled up well after the George Main and although Waller is yet to confirm her next start, it is expected to be in the Craven Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Everest Day, October 14. This is when Winx will finally get out over a middle distance again, which should make it easier for her to dominate the race. The four weeks between runs could also be ideal timing, giving the mare every opportunity to get over three exacting runs this season. Waller may even look to take the earmuffs off next start. Either way, it probably doesn t matter because Winx keeps winning anyway. - Ray Thomas, The Daily Telegraph. WATCH highlights from winx s 20th straight win Footage courtesy of the ATC.
MEDIA RELEASE 20 SEPTEMBER 2017 On behalf of the owners, Hugh Bowman and myself please refer to the below media release in regards to Winx. Hugh Bowman (pending a release from Stewards on raceday). I am extremely pleased with the way Winx has pulled up following her win in the G1 Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes on Saturday. I could not be happier with her recovery since the run and she continues to maintain her weight approximately 10kg heavier than what she was when winning the 2016 Cox Plate. All bodes well heading towards the 2017 Ladbrokes Cox Plate and after giving careful consideration to her current racing campaign it is likely her next run will be at Flemington on October 7 in the G1 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes. The sole reason for running here as the most likely option is simply based on the timing of the current program which will provide her with 3 weeks between runs from the George Main to the Turnbull and another 3 weeks into the Cox Plate for her 5th run of the campaign. Whilst this is her intended path, if she was not to run in the Turnbull it would be my intentions to run in the Craven Plate on October 14 at Royal Randwick before heading to Melbourne in preparation for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate. It is my intentions to remove the ear muffs from her race day gear for her next start as Hugh and I don t feel they are required. As has always been the case, I will continue to be guided by the horse and what I feel is best for her when planning her racing preparations. I am very mindful of how well received she is each time she races, however her longevity is of the utmost importance and this is evident by the limited racing she does each preparation. To ease speculation on her future beyond 2017, I look forward to the Autumn and a possible trip overseas but at this stage no decision on this will be made until after the George Ryder Stakes in 2018. During her 20 race winning streak, she has raced on 2 occasions in Brisbane, 3 occasions in Melbourne and 15 times in Sydney but obviously international racing possesses a great deal of appeal. Providing she is well she will either run during The Championships in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and look to target a race during the Royal Ascot carnival or be freshened up subsequent to the George Ryder Stakes and be targeted towards a European campaign containing 3 races over a range of distances. Obviously this is a long term plan and my team and I would much prefer to focus on the current campaign as we head towards such an important time of the Australian Racing season. Culbertson Romani Girl RECENTLY NAMED HORSES Name Breeding Choisir - Malbun colt Reliable Man - Gypsy Jewels filly
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upcoming STABLE RUNNERS Click here to go to the website for more information on our stable runners.
WINX celebrations. Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Ross Stevenson and darryl sherer for our weekly photos. www.bradleyphotos.com.au
Comin Through celebrations. Libran celebrations. Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Ross Stevenson and darryl sherer for our weekly photos. www.bradleyphotos.com.au
The Avenger celebrations. Lead Choreographer celebrations.
Exoteric celebrations. Bella Galeano celebrations. Ross and his Bella.
Warren, High Diva and Danielle representing the stable in fine style at Kembla. Sparky Lad and Fabio. Stable Spunky Lad Chris Harwood and Brenton Avdulla at Warwick Farm. Sophie was up early on Monday morning and caught the sunrise at Rosehill.
The team behind Sayed had a great day out at Newcastle on Friday despite being pipped for the win in the Gold Cup. Malmas. Madam Rouge. Amovatio.
Ryoya and Mortar Platoon. Maddy and Sepoy Acheva. Wu Gok. Life Less Ordinary.`
Connor and Who Shot Thebarman. CAPTION COMPETITION - WINNER! Kieran Pryke is the lucky winner of a WINX cap for his submission for last week s caption competition. With plenty of funny submissions, Kieran came up with the caption below right which was the best option suitable for print for Quick Defence co-owners Christine Mrs Cookie Cook and Francis Cook with Brenton Avdulla after his win on him almost a fortnight ago. Box number 13... Maybe that explains something for those that back the enigmatic Tom Mellbourne, pictured with Finn. You might have won, but Francis thinks he would have ridden him better.