There could be a new Golden Eagle favourite after premier trainer Chris Waller confirmed Jersey Stakes winner Age Of Kings will join his stable, with the $10 million feature the clear focus.
Waller bought the Kingman colt out of Coolmore’s Ballydoyle operation following his win at the Royal Ascot group 3 victory, and he will race in the famous cerise silks of the Ingham family in Australia.
Jersey Stakes winner Age Of Kings has joined the Chris Waller stable and target the Golden Eagle. Credit: Getty
“I was there for his win in the Jersey Stakes and he was very impressive,” Waller said. “We were looking for the Golden Eagle horse and he fitted the bill.
“He is being looked after by James Ferguson, who we have a good relationship with, in England at the moment and will come into our system for the spring and beyond.
“He is a son of Kingman and there are plenty of races for a horse like him over here. Looking forward a bit, he could be a Newmarket horse next year.”
Waller went to the York meeting last week and saw Age Of Kings in the flesh. He admitted his team is still looking for horses to come down under for the spring.
“It’s getting harder to buy the right horse at right price because the market is strong, and the Australian dollar is weaker,” Waller said. “We are lucky to have got a nice one in Age Of Kings.”
There will be stronger English influence on the Golden Eagle, with Jersey runner-up Zoology joining the team of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have Goffs purchase New Endeavour ready to target the $10 million race after being a runner-up in the Britannia Stakes under the care of Roger Varian, followed by placings at Newmarket’s July meeting and Newbury.
Varian is also keen on bringing Charyn, a placegetter behind Paddington in both the St James Palace at Royal Ascot and Goodwood big mile the Sussex Stakes, out for the Golden Eagle. Charyn ran third in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Saturday and is likely to enter quarantine in a couple of weeks.
It would not be a surprise if one of the European three-year-olds joins Light Infantry and Australian Bloodstock purchases New Energy and Berkshire Shadow in the King Charles III Stakes on Everest day.
They bring the best European mile form this year to $5 million Randwick group 1. Light Infantry will return to Australia after finishing sixth in the Golden Eagle last year and has been placed in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville and Royal Ascot opener the Queen Anne Stakes in 2023, while Berkshire Shadow was third in the Lockinge Stakes and fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes.
“We are just about full and the quality of horse is very good, which is a reflection on the investment in the King Charles Stakes by Racing NSW,” Australian Turf Club racing general manager James Ross said.
Nature Strip faces Everest test in Concorde
The grand old man of Australian sprinting, Nature Strip, will return in Saturday’s Concorde Stakes in what is an early spring D-day for the nine-year-old.
Chris Waller wants to see Nature Strip replicate what he has shown in the mornings to have him continue on the path to possibly a fifth Everest, a race he won in 2021.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be retired if he doesn’t win, but he needs to run well to continue,” Waller said. “We’re not here just to make up the numbers, we’re here to make sure that he’s back. He doesn’t deserve to be going around if he’s not.”
Nature Strip has won both his barrier trials, but has always been vulnerable first-up at 1000m. He will be meeting Godolpohin mare In Secret and Zapateo and Eduardo on Saturday.
“I am looking forward to it. He’s come back well, he’s trialled well, everybody’s seen how he’s come back,” Waller said. “Over 1000 metres they’ll go quick. That’s my only concern, the distance.
“But from where he’s at from my side of the fence, I couldn’t have him any better. Everyone from my team is happy and confident he’ll run well.”
Waller is keeping an open mind to what will run his Everest slot.
“We want the best horse they can get,” Waller said. “I think it is an advantage to be able to train your slot because you know exactly where they’re at.
“Like every slot holder, if [Nature Strip] runs well on Saturday, our slot will certainly be trying to lock him in, but there will be stiff competition.”
Kalapour gets to his trip in Wyong Cup
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees can’t wait to see Kalapour extend out in trip to 2100m in Friday’s Wyong Cup. The group 3 winner during the Brisbane carnival was strong late in the Premier’s Cup Prelude when third to Bold Mac and Lees opted for a barrier trial instead of another run as he hunts the Wyong Cup, Newcastle Cup and the Metropolitan.
“He has been up a while during the wintert with that short break before the spring, so the trial was the best way to go,” Lees said. “He has shown his best when he gets to this sort of trip and he is ready to run a big race. Tim Clark won the Chairman’s Handicap on him in Brisbane and rode him the other day and he’ll be on again on Friday.”
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