Australia’s premier trainer Chris Waller heads into spring with a team laced with proven performers and exciting youngsters, but not with the best horse in the country, as he has done for much of the past 15 years.
Waller admits that honour goes to the Ciaron Maher-trained Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pride Of Jenni, which will be back in next week’s Memsie Stakes in Melbourne.
James McDonald launches Fangirl down the outside to win the Winx Stakes last year.Credit: Getty
There is always a horse that is front of mind in racing. Right now, it’s the front-running Pride Of Jenni, and even Waller can’t escape her.
“The simple fact is everyone is interested in Pride Of Jenni because of what she did. She offers something different, and it’s fantastic for racing,” Waller said.
“When you’re thinking about coming into the grand final against her, your horses are going to have to be very fit because of her style.
“My thoughts are you need a fit horse that is not going to let her out of their sights.
“But that is down the track.”
Waller stays in the present while keeping an eye on the future. That is a balance a great trainer has to achieve.
It is two weeks until spring officially starts, but in racing terms it arrives with the Winx Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. The race was named to honour Waller’s greatest champion, and he will tackle it this year with a team of six brings boasting 13 group 1 victories between them.
Waller dominates the Winx with defending champion Fangirl, which is a drifting $2.40 favourite, the heavily supported dual derby winner Riff Rocket, and classy imported mare Via Sistina.
“The first run of the prep is probably the most important, where if they are not prepared right you will flatten them, especially running over an unsuitable distance,” Waller said.
Riff Rocket holds off a late challenge by Ceolwulf to win the Australian Derby in April,Credit: Getty
“It’s a big step to see who takes the role of being the top horse in the stable, and they are all in the mix to be that horse. It makes it an interesting day.
“This year I can enjoy having some very good horses without the expectation of a Winx, Nature Strip or Verry Ellleegant.”
Fangirl returns from a stable accident in autumn in which she suffered a severe leg cut. The indications are that she is back to near her best after Waller felt she might not race again.
“She’s never had as much weight on her as I’d like, but she’s got that weight on her now so I can do a bit more with her and expect a bit deeper into her preps,” he said.
“If she can repeat her King Charles win, she will be the best horse in the spring. She has matured now and she should tick off a few wins during the spring.”
Waller has shortened Riff Rocket to “the Rocket” when he talks about him. The Winx betting has shown confidence around him as he has gone from a $15 outsider to the $6.50 second favourite.
“The Rocket could be ready to launch himself as the next Verry Elleegant; I just don’t know how good he could be,” Waller said.
“Via Sistina has shown she is an outstanding horse over 2000m, but she is in the Australian system now and it will be whether she can sprint well over these shorter trips.”
Via Sistina wins on her Australian debut in the Ranvet Stakes in March.Credit: Getty
The questions for the spring don’t stop with the Winx on Saturday. Thousand Guineas winner Joliestar resumes as the $3.20 favourite in the Show County Quality looking to make claims on Waller’s Everest slot.
“It is important not to commit too early to a horse, and we have plenty options,” Waller said. “I preferred to start her at 1200m with the speed she has, and she gets her chance to make a statement.”
Joliestar will compete with a raft of Waller three-year-olds for the place in The Everest, and the trainer can run off another half-dozen horses that will be better known by the end of the spring.
Autumn Glow and Gatsby’s started the ball rolling with wins at Rosehill last weekend, but Switzerland, Emirate and Private Life are among those to be seen in the next month.
“They could potentially be the best group of three-year-olds I have had as a trainer, but they need to show it,” Waller said
“It is shaping up well with our real big guns still to come.
“You have let it happen in front of you with the three-year-olds, but I’m confident in what we have seen that there are few there that will make it through to the better races.”
