Second Sprint Classic for Nature Strip

Courtesy of Racing.com Australia’s leading sprinter Nature Strip chalked up his seventh Group 1 win as James McDonald equalled Brett Prebble’s record of nine victories during Melbourne Cup Week in the $2 million Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. The Flemington straight has been the scene of many famous Nature Strip victories and […]

Star Kiwi trio orchestrate a Melbourne Cup fairytale

Written by Bren O’Brien Article courtesy of TDN AusNZ It is doubtful in the long history of the G1 Melbourne Cup, stretching back to 1861, that the stories of the winning horse, trainer and jockey have intertwined in the way that those of Verry Elleegant (NZ), Chris Waller and James McDonald did on an amazing […]

How Chris Waller helped a fellow Kiwi fulfil a lifelong Melbourne Cup dream

Source: The Age, by Peter Ryan By the time Ocean Billy kicked clear in the straight at Ellerslie to win the 2021 Auckland Cup in March over the Melbourne Cup journey, the gelding’s trainer Bill Pomare had already lived a full enough life for his son, the critically acclaimed crime novelist, J.P. (Joshua) Pomare, to […]

The Everest: Nature Strip finally delivers in the world’s richest race on turf

Source: The Daily Telegraph, by Ray Thomas Nature Strip won The Everest in a heart-stopper as the sprint superstar and trainer Chris Waller had to wait three frustrating years to finally claim the world’s richest turf race.   Chris Waller was certain Nature Strip’s time had not passed and he was right. After three frustrating […]

Verry Elleegant wins Australian racehorse of the year

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, by Chris Roots Super mare Verry Elleegant has been named Australian racehorse of the year after her dominant 2020-21 season, in which she won five group 1s including the Caulfield Cup. Verry Elleegant also took home the middle-distance and stayer categories, in a recognition of her versatility winning at the […]

Cox Plate to define whether Verry Elleegant is ‘remembered’: Waller

Source: The Age by Damien Ractliffe Over the past quarter of a century, mares have dominated the Australian racing landscape. Dual Cox Plate winner Sunline began the trend and was followed by triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, whose feats will not be replicated in our lifetimes if Lee Freedman’s famous post-race quote from 2005 […]

Verry Elleegant closes in on champion tag after George Main victory

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, by Chris Roots Very Elleegant continues to build a resume that makes her the best of her generation as she made it nine group 1 victories in Saturday’s George Main Stakes at Randwick. Verry Elleegant’s group 1s have come in nine different races. Only Winx with 11 wins in different […]

Great House gives Chris Waller another Newcastle Cup win

Source: Racenet, by Clinton Payne Chris Waller won a fourth Newcastle Gold Cup when Great House took out the $250,000 Group 3 handicap on Friday. Great House gave experienced jockey Jeff Penza his first ever Group race double after just forty minutes prior he led throughout aboard Madam Legend to win the Group 3 Tibbie […]

Winx lets Waller enjoy Verry Elleegant and Nature Strip

Source: Sydney Morning Herald, by Chris Roots Champion trainer Chris Waller will often say Winx has made things easier for him as he heads into carnival time. She was incomparable – but the next best on the long list of outstanding horses to grace Waller’s Rosehill stable step out at Randwick on Saturday. While they […]