Why Waller’s first Group 1 means more than 200 wins
Chris Waller is going to set a record for Group 1 wins that will not be matched, but it’s his first that sits at the top of the list.
As Birdman raced past Pride Of Jenni to take the Doomben Cup on Saturday, Waller was always going to face the questions about breaking into the 200 Group 1 club. He joined Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings, men who were at the end of their careers as Waller began.
But 18 years on from Triple Honour’s Doncaster win, Waller was again next to Glen Boss on Saturday.
“To have Glen there interviewing made me remember how special the first one was,” Waller said. “It will always be the best to me because it was such a big moment for me.
“I have had a lot more since then, but without Triple Honour this would have never started.
“I didn’t know what I was doing in terms of Group 1s back then, and we have learned a lot.”
Waller has become an unstoppable force in racing, and has had champion Winx win 33 consecutive races and 25 Group 1s. He remembered the tough times.
“We were just starting out and had a good horse and had Glen Boss on him. That was a big moment for me to have Glen riding in a Group 1 for me,” he said, recalling Triple Honour.
Waller has developed the careers of many stars since and has taken horses to new heights from other yards, particularly imports like Birdman.
“I like getting horses and working them out,” Waller said. “Birdman is a good example. We bought him as a Melbourne Cup horse a couple of years, but he is a 2000m horse out here and we are starting to see the best of him.”
Waller will start work on his third hundred next weekend with Monopolistic, Providence, Kilman and Defendant lining up in the Queensland Derby, while Fangirl, Sixties and Wodeton will be on show in the Kingsford Smith Cup.
The most remarkable part of Waller’s Group 1 career is that this season is his best in terms of wins at the highest level.
Collett to follow The Next Episode
Jason Collett will work his spring plans around The Next Episode after experiencing his sensational turn of foot in the Magic Millions National Classic on Friday.
The $2.8 million yearling is delivering on the track, but a Group 1 should be the focus over The Everest in the spring. There are easier options than a date with Ka Ying Rising, with races against his own age like the Golden Rose and Coolmore Stud Stakes at the top oif the list.
“I haven’t felt a horse with a sprint like that before,” Collett said. “Wherever he goes in the spring, I will be there. I think he is going for a break now.
“There are few options for him and I’ll just wait for Ciaron [Maher] to tell me what he will take and where I have to be.
“You don’t find horses like him that often. He is only going to get better as he matures.”
Waller’s backing could give Grima the apprentice title
Can Siena Grima run down Braith Nock and win the Sydney apprentice title this season?
She will have to do with only a two-kilo claim after a winning treble at Randwick on Saturday that took her to 19 wins, eight behind Nock.
Chris Waller has never taken on that many apprentices, and Grima is making the most of her opportunity at the premier stable.
She will get every chance to run down Nock this winter with the backing of Waller and the advice of Darren Beadman, who is working closely with the 23-year-old.
He helped mould the career of Zac Lloyd at Godolphin as he won apprentice titles and his influence can be seen on Grima.
“It’s going really great. Darren is amazing, he’s always watching my rides and asking me things about them, and if I ever need any advice, I can always call him up,” Grima said.
“Chris is always putting me on some really nice horses, and I’m just really grateful for it.”
McDonald to miss Queensland Oaks
James McDonald is once again building a big advantage in the World’s Best Jockey award after completing the Hong Kong triple crown on Romantic Warrior in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
McDonald already has eight wins in the top-100 race in the world this term and will head to Royal Ascot to try to add to his tally on Joliestar.
However, the win on Romantic Warrior had a stewards’ room postscript, which will see McDonald miss the Queensland Oaks meeting because of a three-meeting careless riding suspension.
It will open the rides on Chris Waller-trained Panova and Chispa in the Queensland classic.
Romantic Warrior was described by Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Englebrecht Bresges in his blog as an immortal during the week, and McDonald agreed and added he should be Hong Kong horse-of-the-year over Ka Ying Rising.
“He’s a Triple Crown winner, he thoroughly deserved it. I read an article, the boss said he was already an immortal and I totally agree with him,’ McDonald said.
“He didn’t need to win this to be that. I think this is the cherry on top – he should be Horse of the Year this year and I think he stamped that by winning the Triple Crown.”
Purton’s Melbourne Cup dream as 2000 nears
Zac Purton should pass 2000 wins in Hong Kong this week, but he still has a major goal away from the racing mecca.
“I want to win the Melbourne Cup and I’m keen to find a good ride in it this year,” Purton said. “It is the race that you want to win as a jockey.
“Because of my weight, it is tough to find the right horse.”
Purton rode another winning treble on Sunday as he drives towards another milestone.
“In the end, it is a number that I will get to. I’m not changing anything to get there, I just want to keep riding winners,” Purton said.
“There is just a little more attention on the next couple of wins.”
