Waller eyes world record as Sandown stars chase Group 1 glory

In an ideal world, Chris Waller would like both he and his best horses to be able to kick up their heels after the frenzy of what is Melbourne Cup Week.

But the champion trainer knows where his bread is buttered.

Hence, he has strong representation at Sandown this weekend.

The track in Melbourne’s outer-east plays host to Melbourne’s final Group 1 of the year, the $1 million C F Orr Stakes, which headlines a card including the traditional Group 2 features of the $750,000 Zipping Classic and Sandown Guineas, plus the $1 million Thoroughbred Club Stakes.

Waller has runners in each of those events, including Beiwacht and Angel Capital in the Orr Stakes, and while he concedes it is a test for both trainer and horses having to be up until mid-November he understands the benefits of it and is happy to play his part.

“I’m not a huge fan from a training perspective, because you want to give them a break before the autumn,” Waller said of the Orr Stakes placement.

“But I see it’s also a wagering industry, which is what funds prizemoney, and how important it is for the public to see these horses racing again.

“It’s pretty clever and I guess that’s the beauty of competition. You see what New South Wales are doing and that’s exactly what Victoria is following with, these better races.

“It’s exciting to have these good horses racing at the end of the spring.”

Angel Capital had his first run of a four-start spring campaign in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) on August 8, in which he finished third.

He then progressed to the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 29, which was won by Beiwacht.

That is one of three Group 1 wins at 1400m for Beiwacht, while Angel Capital’s long-awaited maiden Group 1 success came in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, which is also over 1400m, later in the spring and Waller said that is why he had kept the pair in work this long.

“They’re both 1400-metre specialists and both entires and it’s an important race for both of them,” Waller said.

“When you think of what are they going to be running in in the autumn, you’d probably have a look at the Newmarket, Futurity, those types of races, the George Ryder and maybe the Canterbury Stakes.

“They’re the four races, so when it’s their speciality distance, you give it serious consideration to these races.”

Victory by either Beiwacht, who will be ridden by James McDonald, or Angel Capital (Ben Melham) would give Waller a 28th Group 1 win for the year, which would equal Aidan O’Brien’s record for the number of Group 1 wins in a calendar year.