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Chris Waller has trained his first winner from his new Warwick Farm stable, named Tie The Knot Lodge in a tribute to the late Guy Walter.
Loophole claimed the honour by taking out the Lindblad Expeditions Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
Walter trained at the stables for more than three decades until his death from a heart attack in May last year.
His wife Wendy put the complex up for sale and Waller jumped at the chance to secure extra accommodation for his massive string of horses.
Waller, who leases boxes at Rosehill and Flemington, says his Warwick Farm set-up is the first he has owned in Australia.
“Horses go from trainer to trainer and they improve and it’s not because of the trainer, they’re not going to a better trainer, it’s the change of environment,” Waller said.
“They work pretty hard these horses and a change of environment means that they’re doing their work without them even noticing.”
Waller has five horses stabled at Warwick Farm, with room for up to 23.
Loophole is owned by Debbie Kepitis, daughter of former Woodlands Stud principal Bob Ingham, and her husband Paul.
The six-year-old gelding, a half brother to the Waller-trained Victoria Derby winner Preferment, got the upper hand over Casino Dancer in the final strides to win by a short neck.
“He’s not going to reach the heights of Preferment, but he tries hard and this is what it’s all about,” Waller said.
Source: bloodstock.com.au