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Sydney premier trainer Chris Waller chalked up his 100th group 1 runner for the season last week, but his focus is on winners and the next chance for success comes in Saturday’s Doomben Cup where he has a handful of runners.
Only one trainer has had 100 group 1 runners in Australia in a season before – David Hayes when he saddled 108 starters for 11 winners.
Waller is set to break that record and already has 11 winners for the season – and the Brisbane carnival could provide a few more to close his most successful year.
“We want to win as many group 1 [wins] as possible, but these horses have all earned their places to be in this race and really it is the level they are at,” Waller said.
“We are always trying to improve and we have taken the steps every year to get better. We remember people saying we were just a midweek stable, then just a Saturday stable, I don’t know what they will say now.”
Foreteller, Moriarty, Hawkspur, Weary and I’m Imposing are a microcosm of the older part of his stable and give an insight into his success.
Foreteller and Moriarty are group 1 winning imports, Hawkspur a Queensland Derby winner that is getting on, while Weary and I’m Imposing show Waller’s ability to keep getting the best from his stable as they approach retirement.
Waller said splitting them was like trying to pick between his children.
“I can make a case for all of them winning,” Waller said. “I’m Imposing is an old marvel [at nine] and his run in the Hollindale [Stakes at the Gold Coast] was very good and it is the best guide for this race. He just keeps getting better.
“Foreteller was also an eye-catcher in the Hollindale and he is a group 1 winner at weight-for-age.
“Moriarty has been set for this race and has always been the sort of horse to bring his best when we get him ready for a race like this.
“Weary didn’t come up in the autumn and this is a try at 2000 metres for a very good horse, and Hawkspur has been there before.”
Waller will head to Brisbane on Saturday and also get a good look at the next generation of the stable.
Ballet Suite is on a path towards the Queensland Oaks, while Sadler’s Lake gets out to a trip in the Rough Habit Plate on his road to the Derby.
“He is a very nice horse and I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet,” Waller said. “These are horses that we have brought through slowly.
“[Two-year-old] Counterattack will go up to Brisbane and the race [the Champagne Stakes] might be a bit short for him, but he is getting ready for the Sires and JJ Atkins, where we have had some success before.”
In total, Waller will have 34 runners for the afternoon with another 25 of his stable due to start at Rosehill on the 10-race card.
Meanwhile, jockey James McDonald is confident he will be right to ride Foreteller in the Doomben Cup and Knoydart in the BTC Cup on Saturday, despite missing Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting because of a knee injury.
“I think Foreteller is a great ride in the Doomben Cup and I have been looking forward to it. They told me to stay off the knee for a couple of days and I’ll be up there on Saturday,” McDonald said.
Source: the age.com.au