Waller Weekly News - Chris Waller Racing

Waller Weekly News                                                    10 May 2019

The stable enjoyed another fantastic week as did the colours of Richard Pegum and the partners
that race with him, in particular those that celebrated Life Less Ordinary’s $500,000 Gr.2 Hollindale
Stakes victory at the Gold Coast and the day before, Abdon’s $170,000 Listed Wagga Wagga Gold
Cup.
Hardy Kiwi stayer The Lord Mayor was also a welcome winner on the Gold Coast on Saturday with
a gritty performance to beat home stablemate Vaucluse Bay.
Not to be outdone the Flemington stable rolled out two winners in smart juvenile Kubrick and
import Mantastic while in Sydney a couple of our promising three-year-olds in Nobu and Kolding
put their best feet forward for valuable wins and perhaps trips to Queensland
Nobu’s victory was particularly noteworthy, with a stable trifecta in the race while all three are by
former stable star and favourite, Reliable Man who stands at Gerry Harvey’s beautiful Westbury
Stud in Karaka, New Zealand.
          We wish all of our connections the best of luck and a safe weekend!

 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
 •    Winners
 •    News & photos

     www.cwallerracing.com | admin@cwallerracing.com | +612 9760 5700

Chris Waller Racing - Winners This Week

Life Less Ordinary
7yo G Thewayyouare - Dont Cross Tina
by Cape Cross
This son of Thewayyouare was one of
two UK imports import to carry the
colours of Richard Pegum to success over
the weekend as he took out the Gr.2
Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast over
1800m.
Jockey Jason Collett was patient in the
heavy track conditions and settled his
mount worse than midfield early on
where Life Less Ordinary travelled kindly.
He then mounted a strong challenge in
the straight and travelled easily into the
lead approaching the final furlong to
defeat stablemate Mister Sea Wolf who
was a gallant second.

Abdon
6yo G Cacique - Kinnaird by Dr Devious
Owner Richard Pegum loves to target
his hometown Wagga Wagga Gold Cup
every year and this year his wife Donna
and friends were the lucky owners with
Abdon an impressive victor in the 2000m
feature.
Tommy Berry was on board and he rode
a patient race, settling the son of Cacique
towards the rear of the field early on.
Abdon travelled strongly throughout
and Berry made up valuable ground as
they approached the home straight. The
leaders then proved no challenge to
Abdon who quickened away impressively
for a cosy success.
The Lord Mayor
4yo G Rock ‘n’ Pop - Soph by Lord Ballina
This former New Zealand bred galloper has been rejuvenated since relocating to the Gold Coast
stable and he recorded an impressive victory in the Gold Coast Cup on Saturday over 2400m.
James McDonald took the mount and opted to relax The Lord Mayor at the rear of the field in the
heavy track conditions.
The son of Rock ‘N’ Pop seemed to relish the cut in the track, travelling kindly throughout before
McDonald brought him with a sustained run in the straight. He produced a strong staying effort
with stablemate Vaucluse Bay game in defeat in second place.
                  Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography
                          and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.

Nobu
3yo G Reliable Man - Royal Prize by
Prized
This New Zealand bred son of former
stable star Reliable Man appears to have
come of age with an impressive staying
victory at Randwick on Saturday over
1800m on the Kensington track.
Tommy Berry was in the saddle and he
dropped Nobu right out to last position
early on where he relaxed beautifully. As
they turned for home Berry picked off
his rivals before unleashing Nobu with
a withering run. The pair hit the front
inside the closing stages to clear away
for a highly impressive victory.

Mantastic
3yo F Fastnet Rock - Foreign Legionary
by Galileo
This imported son of Fastnet Rock has
been racing consistently since joining
the stable and he produced a good
performance to win at Flemington on
Saturday over 1800m.
Craig Newitt was on board and settled
him at the rear of the 12 runner field.
Mantastic travelled well throughout and
Newitt brought him to the outside in the
straight to make his challenge. Mantastic
then let down strongly to stretch clear
for an impressive victory.

Kubrick
2yo C Shooting To Win - Alcatraz by
Fastnet Rock
Kubrick made a winning debut at
Cranbourne on Friday night in the Star
Thoroughbreds colours, scoring over
1000m.
Johnny Allen took the mount and he gave the son of Shooting To Win a perfect introduction to
racing. Settling Kubrick in midfield early on, the colt travelled kindly before being produced late to
gain the upper hand close to home.
In what was a highly promising debut, he will no doubt improve plenty for the experience having
only had the one trial in Sydney prior to this debut run.

                  Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography
                          and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.

Kolding
3yo G Ocean Park - Magic Star by Danzero
This New Zealand bred son of Ocean Park has
returned from a break in fine form. Having been
gelded, he’s now made it back to back wins this
preparation thanks to Wednesday’s 1250m win at
Canterbury.
James McDonald was once again on board
Kolding and allowed him to relax just worse than
midfield early on before coming with a sustained
run as they turned into the straight. Kolding then
quickened up in impressive fashion for an effortless success.

                       Nothing Ordinary about
                       Richard Pegum’s Success
Prominent owner
Richard Pegum, a big                                                             My Kingdom Of Fife.
investor in imported
talent over many years,
was rewarded with more
black type success from
one of his best overseas
finds at the Gold Coast
on Saturday.
Pegum, who part-owned
the 1990 Melbourne
Cup winner Brew and
raced the ill-fated 2YO
sensation Amelia’s
Dream, has focused
on imported stayers –
mostly trained by Chris
Waller - for more than
a decade with much
success.
My Kingdom Of Fife, December Draw, Illo, Dare To Dream, Junoob and Trade Commissioner are
among the notable imports raced by Pegum, along with his current stars Life Less Ordinary and
Abdon.
The latter pair provided Pegum with a memorable 24 hours when they won Listed and Group races
at Wagga and the Gold Coast on May 3 and 4.
Abdon won Friday’s Listed Wagga Gold Cup, joining stablemates Trade Commissioner (2016) and
Life Less Ordinary (2018) as the third Waller-trained winner of the race raced by Pegum in the last
four years.
On Saturday Life Less Ordinary won his fourth race in Australia when he annexed the $500,000
Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast, his victory in the Gr.2 race taking his earnings in Australia to
more than $750,000.

Life Less Ordinary, an Irish-bred 7YO, was imported to Australia after agents Sackville Donald
purchased him for Pegum at the 2016 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in the UK for
100,000 guineas.
At the time he had won four races up to two miles and has since taken his career record to eight
wins and 15 placings in 39 starts for earnings of $819,000.
Life Less Ordinary led home a stable quinella and gave Waller his third Hollindale Stakes win when
he beat Mister Sea Wolf – another Irish-bred import by Amadeus Wolf.
Pegum’s earlier import My Kingdom Of Fife (Kingmambo) also won the Hollindale Stakes in 2011.
Waller said Life Less Ordinary will get his chance to win his first Gr.1 race in the Doomben Cup on
May 18 after five previous starts at the top level without a placing.
“He isn’t the best horse in the stable and he is below the best Group 1 horses but he is what
Australian racing need - he is one of those horses who can keep the Group 1 horses honest,” Waller
said.
“Australian racing really needs horses like him to keep our depth solid.”
Life Less Ordinary is one of 10 stakes winners by Thewayyouare, a son of Kingmambo who shuttled
to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand from 2010 to 2014. He died in France last year at the age of
13.
Life Less Ordinary is one of two winners out of the Irish winner Don’t Cross Tina, a granddaughter
of the Kentucky Oaks winner Lucky Lucky Lucky.
Life Less Ordinary was the second stakes winner in 24 hours in Pegum’s familiar white and green
colours after Abdon’s success at Wagga.
UK-bred Abdon is now the winner of four of his 25 starts and more than $380,000 in stakes.
He was stakes placed in England before his purchase by Pegum for 90,000 guineas at the Tattersalls
Horse in Training Sale in the UK.
He is out of the French Gr.1 winner Kinnaird and is a half-brother to five winners, including the Gr.2
winner Berkshire and to the dam of the dual Gr.2 winner Ivawood. Kinnaird is a half-sister to the
Gr.3 winner Mickdaam (Dubawi).
•   Reliable Man, a French Derby winner who was trained by Chris Waller to win the Gr.1 Queen
    Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in 2013, sired a Randwick trifecta for the trainer on Saturday.
    The Waller stablemates Nobu, Duchess Of Lennox and Ombudsman Horseform filled the
    placings in the 1800m race.
    Reliable Man stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand.
    The winner Nobu (Reliable Man x Royal Prize by Prized) was purchased out of Trelawney Stud’s
    draft at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at karaka for $NZ250,000 by bloodstock agent
    Guy Mulcaster. - RacingandSports.com.au

                         Recently named horses
                      Name                                             Breeding
Spacing                                             Reliable Man - Decking filly
Toomai                                              Shooting to Win - Mirs Kipling filly

Waller confident of group 1 record and
             Everest with Nature Strip
Premier trainer Chris Waller has been shadowed by Douglas Whyte for the past week as the 13-
time champion jockey of Hong Kong prepares for his training debut in the Asian racing powerhouse
next season.
It has been rumoured Waller himself could be heading to Hong Kong, but his focus on Wednesday
was firmly on the winter carnival, where star sprinter Nature Strip could give him an Australian
record for group 1 wins in a season in the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday and race himself into The
Everest.
While Nature Strip is the centre of attention for punters this week, Waller has offered an insight
“Everybody talks about the Golden Slipper with two-year-olds and now everybody talks about The
Everest with the sprinters,” Waller said.
“If he wins on Saturday he is a back-to-back group 1 winner and a worthy contender for an Everest
slot. That is a race I’m thinking about with him.”
into his operation to Whyte, who helped saddle his only winner at Canterbury on Wednesday,
Kolding.
“I still find it hard to believe that someone like him would want to come to me to learn,” Waller said.
“I get a little bit embarrassed about it, if anything.
“He is a legend in the jockey ranks and I have no doubt he will be a legend in the training ranks as
well.”
Whyte has worked his way around the world since retiring from a stellar career in the saddle when
he was offered the chance to transfer into the training ranks in Hong Kong.

“When you are with someone like Chris, it is about listening and learning,” Whyte said. “It is about
taking in his professionalism and attention to detail and seeing how he handles things.
“The training here is very different to Hong Kong, but you get to see what works away from the
track as well on it.”
Whyte will be at Deauville in France or a ready-to-race sale when Nature Strip runs in the Doomben
10,000 as he will be looking for a couple of horses for his stable.
Nature Strip, which held off Pierata to win The Galaxy at his last start, was the centre of $200,000
plunge from one punter at the TAB on Wednesday. He had $100,000 at $2.20 then $50,000 at $2
and $1.90. Nature Strip is in to $1.85 Doomben 10,000 favourite, while Osborne Bulls, which has
run second in the Lightning Stakes, Newmarket Handicap and TJ Smith this preparation, is out to
$3.50.
Waller admitted to high confidence levels from himself and jockey James McDonald about Nature
Strip.
“He finally ticked the group 1 box last time,” Waller said. “Everyone knows he is a fast horse. He is
typical of a horse that gives us a lot of confidence at home, and people pick that up.
“We have a confident jockey, confident trainer and confident horse heading to Saturday.
“I know he is drawn out a bit but James is not too concerned, it just means he can do his own thing.
If he wants to go keen, he can lead. If he wants to relax, he can take a sit like we tried to last time.
“We think he has been settling in his work quite well over the past month and he has been making
that one per cent improvement each week.” - Chris Roots, Sydney Morning Herald.

Nature Strip ditched for The Everest last year
 - 2019 audition to gather steam Saturday!
Chris Waller says his confidence levels are up with Nature Strip and believes a Doomben 10,000
triumph on Saturday would prove the sprinter is a worthy contender for The Everest.
Nature Strip has been backed as though unbeatable in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 – firming from
$3 to $1.85 in a few hours on Wednesday with tab.com.au on the back of some big bets including
one punter splurging $200,000.
Champion trainer Waller admits Nature Strips’ barrier draw (11 of 13) was perhaps not ideal, but
says the last start Group I The Galaxy winner has the brilliant speed to overcome it.
Waller says it is not certain Nature Strip will lead Saturday’s 10,000 field – he is content for James
McDonald to take a sit if needs be if the sprinter is burned off early by runners on his inside.
One thing is for sure and that is Waller feels back-to-back Group I wins would prove Nature Strip
would be a worthy contender for an Everest slot later this year.
Nature Strip was last year stripped of an Everest slot with the Australian Turf Club ditching the
sprinter and instead signing up Godolphin’s Osborne Bulls after Nature Strip’s failure in the Group I
Moir Stakes when trained by Darren Weir last September.

It is perhaps ironic that Osborne Bulls is Nature Strip’s main rival in the Doomben 10,000 – priced
at $3.30 with tab.com.au
Chris Waller Racing has its own Everest slot and Waller hopes he is talking about the $14million
Everest after the 1200m dash at Doomben on Saturday.
“If he could win this it would suggest that he would be a worthy contender for an Everest slot and
we will hope that we are talking along those lines post-race,” Waller told Racenet.
“It was great to see him win last start because obviously a horse with his speed and having won a
number of group races, you are trying to tick that Group I box.
“To beat a horse like Pierata, with him then coming out and winning, certainly franks the form.
“Our confidence levels are up.
“You have heard me talk time and time again about horses and their confidence and I think this
horse is in a similar mind space.”
Nature Strip arrived at Waller’s Gold Coast stable on Sunday and the trainer says the sprinter who
enters “beast” mode on raceday has already shown coast stable staff that he is a gentleman away
from the track.
Waller isn’t particularly concerned with drawing three from the outside in Saturday’s 13-horse
Doomben 10,000 field.
“The beauty of Nature Strip is, with that early speed, that he can overcome draws,” Waller said.
“Whilst it is not what I was hoping … he still has enough speed to get himself out of trouble.
“If they go as quick as they do some years in this race we can take a sit and if not he can be up on
the speed himself.
“He has had a trial since his last race and trialled well and then went up to the Gold Coast stable on
Sunday.
“He has settled in well and has enjoyed the change of scenery, which is always good with any horse,
especially a horse that has been up a while.
“Since Nature Strip's arrival on the Gold Coast the staff have quickly warmed to him - he is an
absolute gentleman around the stables and on the training tracks yet a bit of a beast when racing
under race conditions.” - Racenet.com.au

  Click here to head to the news section of the website to read other articles published this week.

Tom off to Brisbane leaving New Universe as
     Chris Waller’s Scone Cup runner
The national tour for
popular galloper Tom
Melbourne continues on
Saturday when he heads
back to Queensland
leaving New Universe
as the sole Chris Waller
representative in the
$180,000 Listed Darley
Scone Cup (1600m) on
Friday.
“Only New Universe will
head to Scone while Tom
Melbourne becomes
Tom Brisbane on
Saturday,” Waller said.
New Universe has
been installed a $13
in Friday’s feature
after resuming with
tradesman-like first-up effort when finishing fourth behind Archedemus in the traditional main lead-
up to the Scone Cup, the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
“His first-up run was very good at Hawkesbury,” Waller said.
“The backmarkers didn’t really get into the race but he finished off well and has trained on well
since.
“He’s drawn well on Saturday and Scone should suit.
“He’s no superstar but he’s earned his share of prizemoney along the way and looks well suited to a
race like a Scone Cup.”
Tommy Berry takes the ride aboard New Universe while James McDonald will be aboard Tom
Melbourne when he lines up in the Listed Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
Tom Melbourne goes into the race off a second placing in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and is the
$6.50 second favourite behind Gem Song at $3 and Archedemus at $4.40.
“It’s a similar mile race and he’s drawn a bit better,” Waller said
“He could have easily run at Scone but from the better draw it makes it slightly easier for him to get
some cover up there and that’s the key to him.
“Barrier four will help him get cover and he’s going well.”- Racenet.com.au

Douglas Whyte in town learning the training
          craft from Chris Waller
Thirteen-time champion Hong Kong
jockey Douglas Whyte has spent the
past week alongside Chris Waller as he
prepares for his new career as a trainer
later this year.
Whyte, 47 was nicknamed ‘the Durban
Demon’ during his riding days and he’s
spent the past three months travelling
the world, to learn training methods
from some of the best since announcing
his retirement from the saddle in
January.
Whyte started his international fact-
finding mission, spending a fortnight
with Mike de Kock in Dubai, six weeks
in the UK with Sir Michael Stoute and
William Haggas. In Australia it was
a month with David Hayes’ Lindsay Park operation before coming to Sydney to spend time with
Waller’s huge Rosehill team.
“Chris is one of the best and most professional. I think everybody knows that and his record speaks
for itself,” Whyte said.
“To come and be his shadow, see what he does, how he operates and manages his team to be so
successful at what he does. I’m taking everything back that I can.
“Chirs does everything very well but from a management, detailed and meticulous point of view I
don’t think you’ll find may, if any better.
“This morning out at the trainers stand, we didn’t leave until nearly quarter to nine and others were
gone at seven-thirty. He’s there checking over their feed, their weights, unbelievable, giving his
thoughts on their work. He doesn’t stop.”
Whyte leaves Sydney on Thursday, heading for the sales at Deauville in France before returning
home to prepare for his first intake of horses in around two months.
“I start taking horses mid-July and the first race meeting will be when the new season starts in
September,” he said.
“It’s a real challenge that as a jockey I never really thought of. You think you’re going to ride forever
when you winning premierships and do don’t think about what lies ahead after riding.
“As my career was going on and on, I thought what am I going to do when I’m done? And I wouldn’t
know anything other than being around horses. I’ve dealt with them since I was two years old.
“It’s a new challenge and I love challenges. Ever time I’ve been faced with a challenge I’ve managed
to get the better of it and rise above it.
“It’s a bit daunting but it puts another fire in me and I’m very eager.” - Racenet.com.au

Looking back on Winx’s career
Over the next few weeks we’ll contine to share reflections from various members of the team who
have worked with Winx over the years.

                Tom Simpson - Equine Physio
Every superstar, human or animal, no matter
what have a certain presence about them and
they make other people look good. Winx was no
different.
As her Physio there were two things that stood
out:
     1. She knew what I was doing as a Physio
     and helped me through a treatment.
     2. Her constitution was exceptional, i.e.
     where other horses would normally be
     tight or reactive she wasn’t as her gait was
     incredibly economical.
It has been an absolute privilege to be involved
with this wonderful athlete and I can’t wait to be
working with her progeny in the coming years!        Click on the image above for some great insight
#GOAT                                                        into Tom’s work with our horses.

2019
          MATT CALLANDER
                          Race Day
                          Race Day
                          Saturday, 1st June 2019
                           Rosehill Racecourse

            Australian Turf Club along with the Callander family
          would like to invite you to the Matt Callander Race Day.

                         Proudly supporting the
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                    Start time: 11.00am Dress: Race attire

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                              TABLE SPONSOR
                 $3,000 per Table inc GST (table of 10)

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                                     PROUDLY SUPPORTING

Upcoming runners

Life Less Ordinary celebrations.

The Lord Mayor celebrations.

Nobu.

Mantastic.

Kubrick and Darcy.

My Nordic Hero strikes a
pose on the Gold Coast.

Lubuk loving a cuddle with Dan.   Gresham takes to the pool.

       Charge and Mick.           Candi and Casterton.

Loafing.                  Betcha Flying.

Toryjoy and Breakdance.

Paul Shailer doing his best J-Mac on the equiciser
at the Gold Coast ahead of Nature Strip’s start in
the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 tomorrow.