Chris Waller always chooses his words carefully.
A passionate racing man who obviously cares about the future of an industry that supports him, he’s never one to be overtly political. He is known for being tactful and only using his significant political influence when necessary.
But it seems he is unimpressed [like many others] with the situation racing finds itself in on Saturday, if his stable’s YouTube video with his assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth is anything to go by.
The master trainer routinely navigates Melbourne and Sydney, taking his stars where the best races are being run – often for the biggest financial returns. And on Saturday, tradition is being gazumped by cash.
The time-honoured Might and Power Stakes over 2000m, a Group 1 and worth $1 million, has four starters. Meanwhile, in Sydney The Hill Stakes, a Group 2 over 1900m, is worth $2 million and has 14 starters.
The Toorak Handicap over 1600m too is underwhelming with 10 starters competing for $1 million. The Turnbull last week raced for $750,000 and both are Group 1s.
Also in Sydney is the Alan Brown Stakes over 1400m, that has 22 runners competing for $1.5 million.
Asked about his runner Waterford in the Alan Brown, Waller said: ‘’[The race] is worth $1.5 million, Charlie. Massive prize money. Hence the reason for the big-sized field. Isn’t it? We’ll get to the Toorak in a minute, but there’s only like 10 in it?’’.
Waller later suggested the Toorak doesn’t possess a Group 1 field.
”It’s a genuine group two race, isn’t it? … It’s like a group two type race. The quality.”
Waller made it clear why the Hill Stakes had a bigger field, despite the Group 1 opportunities in Melbourne.
‘’Great race, great prize money, and well done for the trainers supporting it because it’s a good-sized field,’’ he said.
”How many in the Might and Power, sorry? Five?’’.
Waller then referenced Racing Australia’s pattern committee, saying it could spell doom for the Might and Power’s Group 1 status.
”I think people are scared for the pattern committee to get together because races like this are going to get a shake,’’ Waller said, in responding to a question from Duckworth about how Melbourne Cup hope Buckaroo might run in the tiny field.
”Yeah, so yes, we need to bring it all together, but we need to do it the right way and keep our heads on. But, hey, Buckaroo’s got a great chance.’’
The other sensible point Waller made was the prize money discrepancy between the Golden Rose and the Caulfield Guineas.
‘’The Golden Rose is worth one [million] … and this is worth … three [million],’’ Waller said.
”I’m not arguing. I think Golden Rose is worth good, suitable prize money. It’s just that it’s a bit distorted.”
And Waller didn’t stop there. Asked about his runner Surf’s Up in the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Plate on Saturday and her gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday, Waller again went outside Duckworth’s line of questioning.
He praised the Melbourne Racing Club and implored the Australian Turf Club to take notice.
‘’Caulfield doing a fantastic job, every time we complain they listen and there’s lots of complaints so now, they’re doing a great job,’’ Waller said.
‘’And they’re getting good turnouts, they sort of sell racing and I think that’s the next step for the ATC.”
‘’We often talk about the ATC start engaging a little bit more in the mornings and get a few people out to the track, we see it in Melbourne … Moonee Valley, they get their people. Flemington, they get their people. Caulfield, they get their people.”
”So there’s competition. We don’t have competition in Sydney, so we need to just keep pushing.’’
Finally, Waller had a zinger in congratulating the ATC for an initiative that saw $1.60 beers to celebrate 160 years of The Epsom.
”They’re having a crack. And they need to. They need to pull their finger out. But I think they’re having a crack,’’ Waller said.
To which Duckworth asked ”Where’s it been?’’
”Oh, it’s been up there somewhere,’’ Waller deadpanned.
In an industry where participants roll out the same lines week after week, Waller’s performance is nothing short of refreshing.
