Champion trainer Chris Waller is making a habit of winning Group 1 races.
Of the six run so far in the 2026-27 season, Waller has won four at the highest level.
Waller has a strong hand of five runners in the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday while his sole starter in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Sunday will be Beiwacht.
Beiwacht is already a Group 1 winner for Waller this season, taking out the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last month and the entire was at Caulfield on Tuesday morning for a gallop in preparation for Sunday’s contest.
Former jockey Steven Arnold, now a trusted work rider for the Waller stable, partnered Beiwacht in his hit-out.
Arnold gave a glowing report and said while Beiwacht is a 1400m specialist, the drop back in trip to 1200m won’t pose any concern.
“I was really happy with his work this morning,” Arnold said.
“We were not here to test his ability, just a training exercise to get him out of the box and stimulate him a bit.
“He did it all perfectly. He’s been here before, he gets on his right leads around here and he felt amazing up the straight.
“His fitness is perfect coming back to the six furlongs (1200m).
“I was very happy with his work and he’s ready to go.”
Beiwacht has only had the one start this campaign, taking out the Memsie, and the Waller team has had four weeks to freshen him for Sunday’s 1200m contest.
“He hasn’t done a lot between runs and he’s a natural athlete,” Arnold said.
“I think the six furlongs holds no fears for him, and he likes to dominate those seven-furlong (1400m) races.
“It’s probably speed dependant and how much pressure there is in the race, but if he can get up on top of the speed and get into a good rhythm, which he does, then he’ll be highly competitive.”
Arnold said Waller was a master at having his horses ready to perform at the highest level on the day.
“He’s very good at aiming them at races and getting them right on the day as we saw with Angel Capital on the weekend,” Arnold said.
“He’s the boss.”
