Waller Weekly News - Chris Waller Racing
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Waller Weekly News 12 April 2019
Ringerdingding, Sexy Eyes and The Lord Mayor were all headline grabbers over the weekend
winning their respective feature races while we also celebrated a treble at Gosford on Wednesday.
It was also particularly pleasing to train three winners this week for Mr Katsumi Yoshida of Northern
Farm in Japan with his three talented fillies all looking capable of much more in the future.
We head into a bittersweet weekend of racing with the much publicised last run of Winx set for the
Queen Elizabeth Stakes tomorrow and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their
support and well-wishes in regards to Winx and also The Autumn Sun. He too will not be returning
to training with the announcement this week that he’s to retire to Arrowfield Stud with a stud fee of
$77,000 + GST this spring. We wish the team there the very best of luck with him and look forward
to seeing this class galloper’s foals born in 2020.
As we wave off a couple of the best horses we’ve had through the stable with mixed emotions,
we are however excited about the talent we still have in the stable and the new yearlings that
are coming through the system. The sales team were able to secure another quality bunch at the
Australian Easter Yearling Sale this week and there are very limited spaces available to race these
with us, get in touch with Liam@cwallerracing.com if you’d like information on our yearlings.
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
Ringerdingding
3yo C Sebring - Maybe I by Red Ransom
Having been rather luckless on more
than one occasion of late it was good to
see this talented colt return to victorious
in the Gr.3 Carbine Stakes at Randwick
on Saturday over 1600m.
James McDonald was on board and rode
the perfect race, relaxing the son of
Sebring in midfield early before bringing
him with a sustained run in the straight
to score a narrow yet impressive success.
Sexy Eyes
5yo M Written Tycoon - Hidden Savings
by Secret Savings
Sporting the Magic Bloodstock colours
this talented daughter of Written Tycoon
is a class act and added further black-
type to her page at Toowoomba on
Saturday over 1200m.
Returning from a break she was
partnered with Robbie Fraad who
settled her in midfield early on where
she travelled strongly. Sexy Eyes then
mustered a sustained challenge in the
straight to win with over a length in hand.
The Lord Mayor
4yo G Rock ‘n’ Pop - Soph by Lord
Ballina
This New Zealand bred son of Rock ‘N’
Pop returned to the winners’ circle on his
second start for the Queensland stable
when adding the Toowomba Cup to his
record on Saturday over 2000m.
Brad Stewart was on board and he
settled him just better than midfield
early on before making his move on the
approach to the straight.
The Lord Mayor was soon in a challenging position and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to
grab the lion’s share of the $150,000 prize purse.
Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography
and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.
Mangione 3yo G Fiorente - Symphony Strings by Excellent Art Having performed with plenty of credit in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes at his previous start this talented son of Melbourne Cup winning sire Fiorente appreciated the drop in grade when scoring at Gosford on Wednesday over 1900m. James McDonald donned the Star Thoroughbreds colours and settled Mangione just worse than midfield early on, well off the pace set by stablemate Makdanife who rolled along at the head of affairs. Mangione travelled strongly and McDonald bided his time until well into the straight before producing him to challenge a game Makdanife inside the final furlong and he quickened up smartly for an impressive success. Iskander 2yo F I Am Invincible - Lady’s Light by Toolighttoquit This daughter of I Am Invincible showed the benefit of her debut run when improving to score at Gosford on Wednesday over 1200m. Brenton Avdulla was in the saddle sporting Mr Yoshida’s colours who enjoyed a successful week with three winners from the stable for the owner of Japan’s Northern Farm. Avdulla controlled the race from the outset as he sent Iskander straight to the front when the barriers opened, allowing her to bowl along at the head of affairs. Iskander then kicked on strongly in the straight to repel all challengers for a game success. Achondrite 3yo F Lord Kanaloa - Asterix by Neo Universe Having shown promise at her previous starts this daughter of Japanese sire sensation Lord Kanaloa gained a well deserved maiden win at Gosford on Wednesday over 1600m. Under an in-form James McDonald short-priced favourite was prominent throughout in second early, just off the leader. Achondrite travelled strongly and showed a good attitude in the closing stages to score a gutsy success and gain an all important maiden win for Japanese owner breeder Mr Yoshida of Northern Farm.
Re Edit
3yo F Camelot - So Divine by High
Chaparral
This talented daughter of Camelot
kicked off a profitable couple of days for
Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida when
winning at Hawkesbury on Tuesday over
1500m.
Tommy Berry was in the saddle and
he was prominent throughout on this
likeable sort as she travelled strongly at
the head of affairs into the straight. She
stayed on strongly in the closing stages
for an impressive victory and some
valuable black type will no doubt be the
target with this beautifully bred filly.
Julkkis
3yo F Dundeel - Miss Helsinki by
Hussonet
This well bred daughter of Dundeel made
it consecutive victories when winning at
Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Apprentice Lee Magorrian was on board
in the colours of her owner and breeder
Arrowfield Stud and allowed her plenty of
time to get into a rhythm early. Dropping
her out at the tail of the field early on,
he brought her with a sweeping run
in the straight to score narrowly from
stablemate Ritmico who was game in
defeat.
Be Mindful
4yo G Pierro - Gaudeamus by Distorted
Humor
This son of Pierro returned from an
uncharacteristically poor effort at his
previous start to record his third win this
preparation at Wyong on Thursday over
1350m.
Apprentice Lee Magorrian was reunited with Be Mindful having been in the saddle for his previous victories
and he rode a patient race. Settling right out at the tail of the field early on, Be Mindful put in a sustained
challenge in the home straight to score in determined fashion.
Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography
and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.
Ringerdingding wins Carbine Club
Ringerdingding missed
out on a start in the $3
million Group 1 Doncaster
Mile (1600m) but gained
his consolation by beating
three-year-old rivals in
Saturday’s $200,000 G3
Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)
at Randwick.
Trained by Chris Waller and
ridden by James McDonald,
Ringerdingding ($3.10)
settled midfield on the fence
from barrier one before
driving between runners
inside the final 200 metres
to win by half a neck.
Shuffle Up ($61) was runner-up, with Dealmaker ($2.80 favourite) getting warm late, a further half-
length away in third.
Frustration has been the theme of Ringerdingding’s autumn campaign when hastily joining Waller
following Darren Weir’s disqualification in early February.
His third placing in the G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield was followed by unplaced closing
efforts in the G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and G1 Australian Guineas (1600m) from wide barriers.
Ringerdingding then failed at his most recent start in the G1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) when
not handling the Heavy conditions at Rosehill.
“Unfortunately he didn’t get there (in the Doncaster), it’s been the story of this preparation,” Waller
said.
“In Melbourne he was very unlucky with barrier draws but things have just gone wrong to him. He’ll
win a good race.”
Ringerdingding has raced 17 times for five wins, three of those at Stakes level which have been
between 1400 and 1600m in three-year-old company. – Racing.com
Recently named horses
Name Breeding
Activation I Am Invincible - Dual Diamond colt
Graduation Teofilo - Fornini colt
Grenado Pierro - Military Rose colt
Parlande Spirit of Boom - Everyone’s Talking colt
Ruelas Dissident - Rafaela’s Aim colt
Waller adds Toowoomba Cup to collection Jockey Brad Stewart produced one of his best rides to land his second Toowoomba Cup on The Lord Mayor, 20 years after winning his first. Stewart won the Toowoomba Cup on Gene’s Interest in 1999 and has ridden more than 1000 winners since but few have been better rides. He got The Lord Mayor one off the fence behind the leaders and stalked them to the home turn. In the straight he won a slog with Kubis while Mishani Vaidra came from last to be third. Stewart only picked up the ride when Ryan Maloney couldn’t make the weight. Champion trainer Chris Waller continued his domination of Queensland staying races with the The Lord Mayor. Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer said the trainer Waller had sent The Lord Mayor north to chase the Brisbane Cup in June. “This was an ideal race in which to start him in middle-distance races. He has run in Group One races and never been disgraced,” Shailer said. “His two runs from a spell have been good and I must pay tribute to Ryan (Maloney) for recommending we put blinkers on him. “We threw plenty of ammo at today’s race and we have a bit more to come,” Shailer said. Stewart said he had the run of the race but Kubis had refused to give in and The Lord Mayor had just been too strong. The Lord Mayor is raced by brothers Chas and Cam Stewart who also have top stayer Order Again. Dale Smith said Kubis had tried his heart out and could win a good race. “He led and just kept fighting,” Smith said. Josh Oliver said Mishani Vaidra has been forced to give away too much start. – Racingnews.co.nz
Chris Waller enjoys prized Weetwood
Handicap, Toowoomba Cup double
Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable had one of its most important days when The Lord Mayor and Sexy
Eyes completed the Toowoomba Cup-Weetwood Handicap double at Clifford Park.
While Waller is motoring towards a century of Group 1 winners on Day 2 of The Championships
next week, his Queensland stable manager Paul Shailer acknowledged how important days like
Saturday were to the Gold Coast arm of the operation.
“We have 42 horses on the Gold Coast and 15 staff,” Shailer said.
“These days mean a lot to all of them.
“The staff wear the Chris Waller Racing brand proudly and work up to his high standards of
professionalism.
“They make everyone’s job easier. I just turn up and put the saddle on knowing everything else has
been taken care of.”
Sexy Eyes only arrived in Queensland this week, having had a trial in Sydney before heading north.
She has a link to Queensland though, wearing the colours of Peter and Patty Tighe made famous by
Winx.
The Tighes are good friend with Paul and Jill Williams, who bred Sexy Eyes and race her in
partnership.
“This horse was born and bred in Queensland and is also a QTIS horse, so even though she’s been in NSW, Queensland can lay claim to her,” Paul Williams said. Robbie Fradd found the gaps when needed on Sexy Eyes and she proved too good for the local hope Tycoon Ace. “When you look at her, she looks like an Oaks filly, but she has good acceleration,” Fradd said. “The further I went, the better I was going.” Earlier, Waller netted his first Toowoomba Cup and Brad Stewart his second when former Kiwi The Lord Mayor enjoyed a charmed run to win the $150,000 feature. Shailer gave credit to Ryan Maloney, who rode the horse in his previous start, for recommending the application of blinkers. “Unfortunately Ryan couldn’t make the weight and Brad reaped the rewards and gave him a gun ride,” Shailer said. “He didn’t spend a penny in the run and I thought he showed a bit of ticker when the other horse fought on. “He’s here for the Brisbane Cup and this was a nice stepping stone on the way through.” Stewart rode Gene’s Interest to win the Toowoomba Cup 20 years ago and joked it “felt like yesterday”. “When I got to (runner-up Kubis) I thought I would put him away more easily,” Stewart said. “But my bloke was very strong to the line and stuck on well. He’s a nice horse.” Kubis gave a great sight in front, while Mishani Vaidra ran on from the back. – News.com.au
Filly can enhance the Winx moment Owner Brae Sokolski travels to Sydney on Saturday with two specific goals in mind. Firstly, a filly he part-owns, Verry Elleegant, must triumph as the favourite in the ATC Oaks to pave the way for Chris Waller’s 100th career Group 1 winner 40 minutes later when the retiring queen of racing, Winx, struts her stuff for the final time in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Secondly, he intends thoroughly enjoying the moment when his galloper Mask Of Time steps onto the track to take on the super mare that has featured often in Sokolski’s highlight reel during his relatively short time in racing. “We’re part of the story if we can make it 99 for Chris and then Winx can bow out with his 100th Group 1 win,” the owner said on Wednesday. In truth, Sokolski-owned horses have already featured in Winx’s remarkable sequence of victories. “She’s beaten us a number of times with Humidor and Kings Will Dream. We’ve raced her half a dozen times and come off second-best every time, but there have been a few moments. “With Humidor, at the 100-metre mark (of the 2017 Cox Plate), for a fleeting moment, I thought we might beat her and then with Kings Will Dream at the 200-metre mark of the (2018) Turnbull, we thought we may beat her as well. “Of course she was too good for us but Humidor’s effort that year gets overlooked a little. “He is the only horse in Winx’s winning streak of 32 races to run a faster last sectional than her.
“No horse has ever taken ground off Winx over the last 200 metres. The horses that have given her
a fright have always been a long way in front of her and she’s reeled them in but he’s actually taken
ground off her.
“I think that is something that stands Humidor in amazing stead relative to any other horse that’s
raced against Winx.”
Humidor has not raced since pulling up with suspensory issues when unplaced in last spring’s Cox
Plate but Sokolski said the horse is on track for a spring return.
“Humidor’s fantastic,” he said. “He’s basically finished his recuperation and he’s weeks away from
going back into full training.
“He’ll probably do some pre-training on the beach and then there’s every intention of giving him a
spring campaign aimed at the Cox Plate.”
As for Kings Will Dream, who fractured his pelvis in the Cox Plate, he’s this week been given the
all-clear to go back into work.
“We got the all clear yesterday,” Sokolski said. “The vet said it’s 100 per cent all heeled so he’ll do a
little bit of water walking for a few weeks and then give him four weeks to freshen up and then he’ll
be with Chris Waller by the end of May.”
Sokolski also has a share in last spring’s Melbourne Cup fourth-placegetter Finche, who missed this
autumn with a minor soft tissue injury but will be also given a Melbourne Cup campaign by Waller
in spring.
As the crowd farewells Winx on Saturday, Sokolski and his fellow part-owners of Verry Elleegant
suddenly could have claims to having one of the best mares in the country if she can prove herself
at 2400m.
“We want to see her settle and run out a strong mile-and-a-half but everything about the filly from
the way she races to her pedigree suggests there is no reason why she shouldn’t run out a mile-and-
a-half and beyond,” he said.
“The Cups are there for her next spring if she can.” – Racing.com
Why trainer Chris Waller prefers
to sit alone and watch Winx race
More than 40,000 fans will converge on Randwick to watch Winx’s farewell on Saturday but her
trainer Chris Waller will be nowhere to be seen.
In fact, he’s the one who asks others what it’s like to watch Winx.
Waller never watches his horses race in the flesh, preferring to sit alone in a small room and watch
them go around on TV. He famously said after one of Winx’s Cox Plate victories that he watched it
“out near the toilet somewhere”.
Waller will appear to the big Randwick crowd from his spot under the grandstand about five
minutes after Winx runs in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday. He got quite emotional when
explaining why he prefers to watch the races away from the spotlight.
“Not many people would understand the pressure that a trainer is under when you’re in that
situation,” Waller said.
“There’s that much emotion and things riding on a race result for a trainer, whether it’s your first
winner, first Group winner, an expensive colt or if it’s a short-priced favourite.“I like to be on my own. I don’t need the emotions of the highs and lows of a race. “I’ve got a different spot to watch Winx at each race track. There’s just less fuss and you can keep your emotions pretty neutral because when a horse jumps through to it finishes everything goes through your mind. “A horse like Winx isn’t much different to any horse in a Group 1 race, but when you watch it on your own you get to absorb it all properly and you get that 20 seconds post-race to prepare for the Winx receptions.” When Winx won the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes on Golden Slipper day three weeks ago, Waller commented how “electric” the Rosehill crowd was. Not that he got to feel it as his champion surged past Brutal in the straight that day. It will be the same again on Saturday. “I miss all that atmosphere,” he said. “I get a kick out of watching the snippets of the crowd on TV in a post-Winx race. I ask people what it was it like to watch her. I ask them what it was like out there and they tell me it was a great sporting moment. “I’ll ask my parents where they watched it and what was it like and I get just as much a kick out of that, understanding how much she means to other people.” Waller doesn’t give too much away on race day but Winx often gets the better of him and the tears flow. Even though he’s a quiet man by nature, he still likes to be out of the limelight and not be seen. And that’s not because he doesn’t want fans to see him carrying on excessively during a race. “I don’t (whip them home),” he said. “When The Autumn Sun raced in the Randwick Guineas I closed my eyes for the last 100m. “I’ll sit on the edge of my seat. It’s definitely a personality thing and we’re all different. “Let’s be frank. You don’t know what’s going to happen on a race track. I never come to Winx’s races saying she’s going to win today even if she’s a $1.10 favourite. It’s sport and anything can happen. “That’s another reason why I sit in there by myself. You just don’t know what will happen.” – The Daily Telegraph
The Winx Rose – Celebrating the
World’s Best Racehorse
It’s never easy to farewell a champion, especially one as wonderful and as enduring as Winx. But
as the world prepares for the end of an era, there’s another way to celebrate the memory of
wonderful Winx … with a glorious Winx Rose produced in her honour.
The astonishing Winx has strung together an extraordinary 32 consecutive wins over four years—a
world record 24 at Group 1 level—and will farewell the racetrack in the $4 million G1 Queen
Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 13.
Her amazing record stands at 42 starts, 36 wins, 3 seconds and $24,016,674 in prizemoney. She
has won at distances from 1100 metres to 2200 metres, during which time she has been cared for
meticulously and always with her welfare of paramount importance by her trainer Chris Waller, his
staff and jockey Hugh Bowman. There is only one more, emotional, soul-stirring race to come.
We have built a remarkable catalogue of incredible memories of Winx’s spine-tingling performances
that have etched her name alongside legends such as Phar Lap, Carbine, Makybe Diva and Black
Caviar as one the greats of the Australian turf—and arguably the best of them all.
Winx’s connections –Peter and Patty Tighe, Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis, - have combined
with Knight’s Roses to produce a unique commemorative rose in Winx’s honour.
The Winx Rose, like the great mare, is the epitome of class. This beautiful flower is the product
of exquisite breeding designed to capture the qualities that define Winx—elegance, longevity and
brilliance.
Just as Winx is a once-in-a-lifetime horse, the Winx Rose is a fittingly unique tribute to the world’s
best racehorse.
“The Winx Rose is a very special way to recognise Winx’s achievements. As owners we are
incredibly proud of Winx and humbled by the support and love from her fans around the world.We are excited to have worked with Knight’s Roses to produce a lovely memento to allow fans
to celebrate our wonderful mare. Like her, it’s beautiful.” said Patty Tighe on behalf of the Winx
owners.
Daniel Knight, proprietor of Knight’s Roses, describes the Winx Rose as a “new rose released for the
first time in Australia. It’s an extremely elegant garden rose with a pristine white colour and is the
perfect choice if you want a bright, white garden rose.”
“It’s a perfect choice as the flowers are retained for a long time and the dense dark green glossy
foliage creates an excellent contrast to the flower. The bushy habit provides a good groundcover
and is ideal for bedding, borders, hedging and for small or large-scale planting. It is also an
outstanding container rose.”
The Winx Rose, a commemorative boxed bare root can be ordered online at winxrose.com.au and
will be available at selected nurseries for RRP $26.00. Bare root roses will be dispatched in May.
Potted roses will be available in Spring.
Winx’s owners have selected the National Jockeys Trust as the nominated charity to receive a $1
donation for every Winx Rose sold.
The Winx Rose Specifications
Shape — Rosette Petal Count — 60+ Vase Life — 7-10 days
Colour — Pure White Diameter — 6-8cm Fragrance — Moderate
About Knight’s Roses
Knight’s Roses is a family-owned and operated company with a long and proud history dating back
over 50 years. From humble beginnings, the South Australian company has flourished to become
one of the largest rose suppliers in Australia. Knight’s is located in Gawler, the gateway to the
Barossa Valley.
Knight’s Roses is proud to present a collection of stunning commemorative roses, with part
proceeds from the sale of these roses being donated to the nominated charity of each special cause
rose. These include the Black Caviar Rose; Variety Rose, Firestar – supporting CFS Foundation;
Daniel Morcombe Rose, Peter Brock Foundation Rose, South Australian Country Women’s
Association (SACWA) Rose and Dolly’s Dream Rose.
Footnote – Why a White Rose, not a Blue Rose:
Why is the Winx Rose white and not the famous blue (with white M) of the colours worn by Winx’s
jockey Hugh Bowman?
Kelvin Trimper AM, Past President of the World Federation of Rose Societies explains that “There
has never been a blue rose produced or bred. We have mauve and purple roses but, despite many
dollars invested in research and rose breeding throughout the world, a blue rose has not been
achieved.”
“Occasionally, we see blue roses in florist shops or in flower arrangements. These are generally
white roses which have been placed in a blue dye liquid which then allows the stems to artificially
create a ‘blue rose’.”
“However, in the plant world, we never say something is impossible and with modern scientific
methods we may, someday, see the creation of a blue rose.”
* The Winx Rose is an officially licensed Winx product; via Knight’s Roses in South Australia.Winx sells out Royal Randwick For the first time since the golden era of racing - or at least in living memory - Royal Randwick was officially declared a complete sell out at 3pm Wednesday, with a capacity crowd of 42 000 reached for Saturday April 13, when Winx is scheduled to run her final race. Almost half those tickets were general admission, priced at around $37 each, pending whether the ticket was purchased with a slightly cheaper early bird deal. The rest are Members and corporate hospitality packages. “I can’t recall anything like this,” Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys said. “The only thing that comes close in my time is the massive crowd we got for The Everest in October last year, and this is bigger again.” The seven-year-old mare is aiming for her 37th overall win on Saturday, putting her on par with Phar Lap’s record of 37 wins from 51 race starts. If successful, it will represent Winx’s 33rd consecutive win, and will push her total prize money to almost $26.5 million - more than three times that of the champion Victorian mare, Black Caviar, who retired unbeaten - with 25 starts for 25 wins - in April 2013, her owners having banked more than $7.9 million in earnings. One of Winx’s three owners, Debbie Kepitis, confirmed to The Australian Financial Review on Wednesday “this is her last race - no question about it. After this, she’ll go out for a long spell in the paddock.” Kepitis will do a press conference on Thursday with Winx and the horse’s trainer, Chris Waller, at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney’s outer west, where the mare is stabled. Royal Randwick’s anticipated capacity crowd is up from the previous recent record of 40 512 people who attended its popular The Everest race day in October last year, billed as the "world’s richest race on turf"with $13 million up for grabs over the day. This Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day’s headline race – in which Winx will run at 3.05pm (EST) - is worth $4 million, with $2.6 million of that awarded to the winner. “The day doesn’t offer as much prize money as Everest – but the crowd shows the extraordinary pulling power this horse has,” said a spokesman for the Australian Turf Club, which operates Royal Randwick. “Over the past three years, we’ve seen a 25 to 30 per cent like-on-like increase in crowds when she races. But the last few starts, that’s gone higher again." Tabcorp is anticipating at least $3 million in fixed bets will be placed on Winx for Saturday, with additional tote bets. "Last year we held around $1 million on her in the same race," Tabcorp's General Manager Corporate Communications, Nicholas Tzaferis, said. Tabcorp today took a single bet on Winx for $246,917.- Australian Financial Review
Tearful goodbye: meet the Brit who
has been with Winx every step of the way
Lee Mottershead heads down under to talk to the team behind the star mare
We do what we have to do with her and then leave her alone, which is how she likes it. We know
her language
An Englishman has been at Winx’s side throughout her racing career. That Englishman is now facing
up to a future without the wondermare and is readying himself for Saturday’s conclusion to the
farewell tour. Like the man he calls his employer and friend, he is odds-on to shed a tear.
Charlie Duckworth, assistant trainer to Chris Waller, will not be the only one who gets emotional.
Waller himself is famously not afraid to bare his soul, while groom Umut Odemislioglu expects to
be moist of eye when, in the near future, the time comes for Winx to leave his care and her racing
home for good. Before that, there is the last hurrah to complete.
The sun is shining on Sydney and its surrounds this Wednesday. Waller and Duckworth have just
walked off the Rosehill Gardens racecourse and are now heading to the trainer’s trackside stables,
which have been placed under lockdown in the final countdown to Winx’s last race, Saturday’s
Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
Waller has masterminded a 32-race winning streak he and his team dearly wish will soon become
33. The 29-year-old Duckworth has been in that team for all those races. His time in Australia
began in January 2014 following stints with Ralph Beckett, John Joseph Murphy and Mick Channon.
It has been a very good time indeed.
“I spend 12 hours a day with Chris six days a week, so I have a pretty special relationship with him,”
says Duckworth.“He has looked after me fantastically well throughout my time here. Family is such a massive part of his life and he realises I’m a very long way from home. He’s like a father in Australia to me. He really is. I would go to him with any trouble, whether it’s personal or work-related and he’d be my confidant. That’s pretty special, too.” Incredibly special is the lady who lives in box 51 under the daily devoted care of Candice Persijn and Odemislioglu, a former theatre manager back home in Turkey. There is no doubt about the identity of his leading lady. “She’s a no-problem horse, that’s the main thing,” says Odemislioglu. “She knows her routine and knows her job. We do what we have to do with her and then leave her alone, which is how she likes it. We know her language.” There is not much that is not known about Winx, not least because she is the subject of a 450-page authorised biography. The paperback edition is likely to have a winning final chapter. Everyone expects Winx to triumph at Randwick. It is not, however, Odemislioglu’s priority. “The first thing in my mind is that she finishes her race safe and healthy,” he says. “Once she does that I’ll realise it’s the last race. As a team we’ll have finished the job and we’ll have lots of memories. She’s going to be a mum and I’m happy about that. “We might all cry a little bit when she leaves here – first Chris and then the rest of us. It will be emotional but she’s not going far and I’m sure we’ll be able to visit. We might also see her babies here as well.” One day Duckworth might be a licence holder with one of those babies running in his own name. At the moment he is perfectly happy where he is. “I’m not in a rush to leave,” says Duckworth, who boasts piercing blue eyes to match the blue silks in which Winx races.
“I’ve always wanted to train but leaving a yard in which we have so many good horses to train some very slow horses in the middle of nowhere would be hard.” The opposite of very slow is Winx in top gear under Hugh Bowman. “We don’t really know how good she is,” says Duckworth. “We can’t say if she is as good as, or better than, Frankel. It’s like comparing rugby union and league. “Racing is so different down here compared to home, but she can only beat what she’s up against. Horses are now sent to stud and they’re sold to breeders as having finished second to Winx. That’s a pretty big statement. It tells you she’s exceptional. “It’s obviously down to Chris and Hughie, but I hope she smashes them by ten lengths on Saturday. I’d love to see Hughie let her rip so she can show her dominance. Everyone will then be able to see again that she is pretty bloody good.” Winx has been more than good for her connections and sport, attracting levels of media coverage unheard of for a racehorse anywhere else in the world. Among those thankful she came along is Waller’s business manager Liam Prior, who represented his boss when the then juvenile filly made a winning debut at Warwick Farm in June 2014. “She’s done a lot for our business, for sure, but she’s also done a lot for the industry and for racing in New South Wales in particular,” says Prior. “People are drawn to any sportsperson when they start building a winning sequence and through Winx people have started to go racing and become involved in racing. “Over the last four seasons every horse in Australia has had a chance to beat her from 1,400 metres to 2,000 metres. She has beaten a lot of horses and a lot of Group 1 winners.” There is now just one more field of Group 1 winners to beat. That means we are also in the last of what Waller’s staff call a Winx week. “Whenever it’s Winx week we know we’re going to get in trouble with Chris for something,” says Prior.
“When you’re right, you’re wrong, and when you’re wrong, you’re still wrong. I think the pressure starts to build for him from the previous Saturday. Charlie might come in during the morning and say he took a spray of bullets from Chris. I’ll know it’s my turn next.” Prior adds: “We all watch Winx’s races together and as soon as the race is over you feel the massive weight of pressure lift. During the races Chris looks like a ghost with no colour and dry lips. He watches the races holding his breath, but then the race ends, he gives you a cuddle and everything is right.” Racing fans around the world will be hoping everything is right at around 3.10pm local time on Saturday, when the curtain comes down on one of the greatest careers in racing history and Australian sport. Duckworth will be in the Winx entourage and is looking forward to helping Waller to saddle a mare who has been an integral part of his life in a distant land. “I know I’ll get emotional on Saturday and I’ll definitely shed a tear,” he says. “I’ve got choked up for every one of her last five runs. It doesn’t help that I watch her races with Chris. When you see someone else cry it rubs off on you. “It hasn’t sunk in yet that after Saturday she won’t ever race again. I don’t even think it will sink in over the winter months. I think it will hit home only when she doesn’t return in the spring. She’s been here all the time I’ve been here. It’s hard to imagine what it will be like when she’s not here.” What is hard to imagine will soon become a reality for Duckworth, Waller and all the team. Goodbyes are not long off being said. For now, though, a superstar continues to live in box 51. - Racing Post Candice and Winx looking fantastic this morning.
The Autumn Sun retired Australia's leading three-year-old colt The Autumn Sun has run his last race. Arrowfield Stud on Thursday morning issued a statement announcing that the son of Redoute's Choice had been retired with immediate effect. The Autumn Sun raced nine times during his career, winning eight races and finishing third once – he was luckless in his only loss in September's G2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m). The Autumn Sun's career will be remembered for his five Group 1 wins, registered across three states. He won the G1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm at the end of his three-start two-year-old season. The Autumn Sun then ended his three-year-old season with five consecutive victories, four of those at Group 1 level – the Golden Rose (1400m), Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m). "The quality of The Autumn Sun's race record also reflects the skill and dedication of trainer Chris Waller and his team, and we're very grateful for their care and management of him," Messara said in a statement. The Autumn Sun’s racetrack retirement comes 352 days after his debut at Randwick on Anzac Day (April 25) last year. The racetrack career of his sire, Redoute’s Choice, lasted just 379 days. He won five of his ten starts with four victories at Group 1 level before becoming a champion stallion for Arrowfield Stud. Redoute’s Choice died at the age of 22 on March 26, just days after The Autumn Sun’s most recent start in the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m). Redoute’s Choice has won the Australian General Sires’ Premierships on three occasions and Arrowfield will no doubt be hopeful The Autumn Sun can replicate his father. The Autumn Sun will stand his first season at Arrowfield at a fee of $77,000 inc. GST. A joint venture has been established between Hermitage Thoroughbreds and Arrowfield, both half- share owners of The Autumn Sun, to acquire mares specifically for The Autumn Sun. These mares will be additional to those already committed by Arrowfield for his first book. - Racing.com
Getting to know Katherine Coleman Irish born and bred stable-hand Chloe Connolly took some time out this week to answer our ‘Getting to know you’ questions. “I grew up around horses in the South West of Western Australia and started working at a breaking and pre training stable after I finished school. I moved to Melbourne to work for a trainer at Caulfield and ‘stay for a few months’ six years ago and still absolutely love it here. I’ve been at Chris’s Flemington stable since June last year and really enjoy working there with a great team of people around me!” Nickname? Kat. Best Quote? “Life is too short to spend it looking in the rear view mirror.” Favourite part of the job? Riding a gallop and knowing the horse has worked well. Favourite horse? Nature Strip. Best horse you’ve ever seen? Tom Melbourne for character, Winx for ability. Role model? My parents. Favourite food? Mum’s lasagne! Favourite jockey? Whoever comes in and helps us out on a Tuesday morning!! If not in racing what would you have done? Physiotherapy. Event in the world most like to attend? The Darwin Cup (surely Chris can pretty please find a horse to send??!! What would you spend your last $5 on? See below Poinstbet special offer. Tip for the weekend? Pointsbet special offer, $2 for Winx to win and Waller to cry!
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
Mark Hughes Foundation, The Muldoon Foundation
and Sivan Arul Foundation.
Start time: 11.00am Dress: Race attire
Sponsorship Opportunities
TABLE SPONSOR
$3,000 per Table inc GST (table of 10)
RACE SPONSORSHIP
$13,000 inc GST per Race Sponsorship (includes table of 10)
Please contact Jess on 0418 617 203 or Richard on 0419 972 366
for further detail on this unique experience.
TO BO
CLICK ONOK
To purchase tickets to this special event please visit: LINK
https://iebms.australianturfclub.com.au/reg/reg_p1_form.aspx?oc=10&ct=CHARITY&eventid=24226
PROUDLY SUPPORTINGUpcoming runners
11 April 2019
Please see below an update on our runners at Randwick on Saturday:
It is obviously an exciting day for the stable and one that we have looked forward to in many ways but obviously it is also a
very special and unique day to have a champion in Winx lining up for her final race day appearance.
Race 7 – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes – 2000m
WINX – Those of you that were at Rosehill this morning saw her in good spirit, she was very fresh and fortunately it goes
to show that she knows how to switch on and perform when required, as we expect to happen on Saturday. The
preparation has gone very well, her race form is one thing but her work at home has been simply brilliant over the past
two weeks. Hugh was very happy with the way she stretched out this morning and she heads into Saturday’s race at a very
similar weight to last year - about 1kg heavier and for an older horse that is certainly not a problem.
The race obviously deserves respect, fortunately she has won it the past two years and we will often see her reach her
peak performance towards her third and fourth run of the preparation which subsequently fits in with Saturday’s fourth
up run. There looks to be good speed which is pleasing as the more solid the test is the more authority she appears to have
and the more her natural ability seems to take effect. We won’t look into a race plan too much, which is normal and simply
leave it up to Hugh and see how the first 200m unfolds and work out where she needs to be to hopefully conclude with a
fairy tale ending.
SHILLELAGH – She also races here, she is backing up after a tough performance in the Doncaster where she certainly
wasn’t suited by the track so to run as close as she did certainly would suggest that she is in good form and the likelihood
of a better track on Saturday is going to be a big plus for her. The 2000m distance won’t be a problem and she was brave
in defeat when narrowly beaten in the Australian Cup over this trip earlier this preparation.
Race 8 – Schweppes Sydney Cup – 3200m
It has been a good race to us over the past few years and on Saturday we have got three genuine stayers in the race:
PATRICK ERIN – He did of course win the Metropolitan and ran well in the Sydney Cup last year. His form has only been
fair but I put this down to the wet tracks and I think he will improve on a better track and with the blinkers going on.
BRIMHAM ROCKS – He also has the blinkers on but he has barrier 14 to contend with, his form isn’t exactly what I
expected going into a Sydney Cup and I thought he would have been a lot more competitive but he is another horse that
might have struggled on the wet tracks at his last few starts. Therefore on a good track on Saturday we would be
expecting a big improvement.
SHRAAOH – He ran a very good race last start but obviously he is racing on the seven day back up. Fortunately he has
drawn well and he has a good natural light weight rider in Jay Ford aboard and he is a fit horse who should be very
competitive down in the weights on Saturday.
Chris Waller Racing Pty Ltd | Ph: 02 9760 5700 | Fax: 02 9682 6603
PO Box 3069, North Parramatta, NSW 1750 AustraliaRace 9 – Coolmore Legacy Stakes – 1600m
PROMPT RESPONSE – She has drawn well in gate 6, her two runs back from a spell have been very good and she has the
right form lines. She will be another horse that will appreciate the better track on Saturday. She should get a nice run, she
was placed in the race last year and again we think she will be hard to beat.
UNFORGOTTEN – I think forget her Doncaster run where they went very slow, she was back wide and running on a very
heavy track. She is another one of our horses that will improve on a better track. Unfortunately she has barrier 17 to
contend with but the blinkers go on and Hugh Bowman was aboard her this morning, who obviously knows her very well
and he said that she worked impressively with the blinkers on. James McDonald takes the ride on Saturday but we
certainly lack nothing by the way of horsemanship with James aboard.
Race 6 – Heineken 3 Australian Oaks – 2400m
VERRY ELLEEGANT – She comes into this race after a very good Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes win, barrier 12 is our only
concern but we have a good jockey aboard who knows the horse very well. We will simply leave it to James and see how
she is travelling for the first 200m and he will work out where she needs to settle. Obviously she has a great turn of foot,
she settled brilliantly last start and hopefully the same can be said for the Oaks over the slightly extended journey on
Saturday. Her work between runs has been very pleasing.
ROMANI GIRL – She drew awkwardly last week and got a long way back but she still managed to find the line well. Based
on that run we thought she had a rough chance of being competitive on Saturday and therefore she lines up with Tom
Berry in the saddle. Again she has drawn a little wide but deserves respect and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her running
in the top three.
Race 5 – Arrowfield 3YO Sprint – 1200m
ZOUSAIN - He has drawn awkwardly in barrier 12 with James McDonald in the saddle on Saturday. His work since being
back from Melbourne has been good, obviously the wide draw is a bit of a concern but there looks to be good speed in the
race so I am sure he will come across and be able to settle well and get back to his best form. This race seems to have
attracted a very good field but anywhere near his best he should be a genuine top three chance.
LEAN MEAN MACHINE – He has freshened up well and trialled well since his trip to Melbourne, he has drawn a little
awkwardly in gate 10 but as we have seen in the past, obtaining a bit of cover early sees this horse finish off very well. I
am still excited about his career ahead, he is a very good looking son of Zoustar and I feel he is capable of making the
necessary improvement to turn the Group 1 placings that he already has next to his name into a winner of races such as
this race and then hopefully on to Group 1 targets in Queensland.
CHARGE - He has drawn awkwardly on Saturday but when winning the Group race on Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley he
also drew wide. He was a little disappointing in the Oakleigh Plate but he has since freshened up well and worked well
over the past fortnight. He just needs a little bit of luck from the wide gate.
Chris Waller Racing Pty Ltd | Ph: 02 9760 5700 | Fax: 02 9682 6603
PO Box 3069, North Parramatta, NSW 1750 AustraliaRace 10 – TAB Sapphire Stakes – 1200m
INVINCIBELLA – She tops the weights on Saturday and she has drawn barrier 2 of 16 with Hugh Bowman in the saddle
who obviously knows her very well. She has been a very consistent performer for the stable and Star Thoroughbreds.
Saturday looks a nice starting point for her prior to heading up to Queensland for the winter carnival. She has worked and
trialled well and I expect her to be very competitive.
ZUMBELINA – She has been a model of consistency throughout her career in easier races, it is a tough starting point for
her on Saturday but let’s hope from barrier 10 she can get a little bit of cover and be strong over the concluding stages.
In closing I would like to thank all of the media for your support and understanding over the past
few years, in particular with Winx. We are very privileged to have so many great writers and
journalists reporting on our great sport and the way you have enabled us, in particular myself,
to go about my business with Winx has been very appreciative and I look forward to some great
stories come Saturday afternoon.
Chris Waller Racing Pty Ltd | Ph: 02 9760 5700 | Fax: 02 9682 6603
PO Box 3069, North Parramatta, NSW 1750 AustraliaRingerdingding celebrations.` Sexy Eyes celebrations.`
The Lord Mayor celebrations.`
Achondrite
Star Of Thecelebrations.
Seas celebrations.
Mangione celebrations.Iskander celebrations. Re Edit celebrations.
Julkkis celebrations. Be Mindful celebrations.`
Mick and Dealmaker.
Dewalt and Mr Sea Wolf.
Achrondite. Paul and Kaonic.Charlotte and Shillelagh. Former stable star Preferment continues to let down intoa magnificent speciman at Brighthill Farm in NZ. Photo: Trish Dunell.
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