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Waller Weekly News 4 January 2019
Sexy Eyes made sure the team wrapped up the 2018 on a good, Group winning note, while further
enhancing her residual value with her Belle of the Turf victory at Gosford.
We then kicked off the new year in fine style with a quartet at Randwick with Naval Warfare
leading the charge on the back-up after his first Australian success, winning the Listed New Year’s
Day Cup a year after he arrived downunder.
While we’ve been enjoying plenty of racing and the lead up to the festive season, stable bloodstock
agent Guy Mulcaster has been busy visiting many of the farms that are now setting up for
inspections at Magic Millions. The Magic Millions team put on a fantastic carnival on the Gold
Coast and we look forward to catching up with plenty of people there. Get in touch if you’d like to
meet up or be kept informed about opportunities to buy into any of the stable’s purchases. A good
read about Guy’s selection of Winx as a Magic Millions yearling is in the newsletter this week while
you can click here for the full Magic Millions catalogue and magazine which is well worth a read.
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
Sexy Eyes
5yo M Written Tycoon - Hidden Savings
by Secret Savings
This daughter of Written Tycoon picked up
a valuable black-type win in the Gr.3 Belle
of the Turf Stakes at Gosford on Friday over
1600m.
Jay Ford took the mount and he had her in
an ideal position throughout, not far from
the leaders, and she let down smartly once
asked in the closing stages to score a narrow
victory. Stablemate Zumbelina also enhanced
her broodmare value in finishing third.
Naval Warfare
6yo G Born To Sea - Three Days In May
by Cadeaux Genereux
This imported son of Born To Sea scored an
impressive victory in the Listed New Year’s
Day Cup at Randwick over 2400m on the
Kensington track.
Corey Brown was on board and he barely
had an anxious moment as Naval Warfare
travelled strongly throughout, just off the
speed. The pair moved him up to challenge
as they turned for home where they soon
put the race to bed, quickening away for an
effortless success.
Seles
3yo F I Am Invincible - Defy The Odds
by Galileo
This Star Thoroughbreds filly recorded her
second victory from just six starts when
scoring an impressive win over 1250m on
the Kensington track on Tuesday.
Corey Brown was on board and rode a
patient race, dropping Seles right out early
before coming with a sustained run in the
straight to score a narrow success.
Recently Named Horses
Name Breeding
Epiline Epiphaneia - Travessia filly
Starla Snitzel - Houston Benefactor filly
Bring The Magic
3yo F Sebring - Belladini by Bernardini
Having shown plenty of promise last
preparation this daughter of Sebring
returned from a spell to score an impressive
maiden win at Randwick on Tuesday over
1400m.
James McDonald was on board and he
dropped the Woppitt Bloodstock and Little D
Racing-owned filly right out at the tail of the
field early on before coming with a sweeping
run to hit the front close to home for an
impressive success.
Gayatri
4yo M Pierro - Jaipur Princess by
Redoute’s Choice
This talented daughter of Pierro is putting
together an impressive record and she
made it three wins from just five starts
when winning at Randwick on Tuesday over
1800m on the Kensington track.
Hugh Bowman was in the saddle and he
settled her just worse than midfield early on
where she relaxed nicely before Bowman
picked off his rivals in the straight for a solid
staying success.
Flying Pierro
3yo G Pierro - We Betcha by Encosta De
Lago
This son of Pierro joined his two half-
brothers High Low Bet and Betcha Thinking
as winners for the stable when he broke
through for a maiden win at Kembla Grange
on Thursday over 1500m.
Guided by Glyn Schofield, who dropped the
Ingham Racing homebred out close to the
rear of the field early on, he relaxed well
before coming with a sustained run in the
straight for a narrow success.
Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography,
and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.
Naval Warfare starts new year
with all guns blazing
After a year in Australia, Naval Warfare has found his feet and produced an easy victory in the New
Year’s Day Cup at Randwick on Tuesday, a result which could set the tone for a big 2019.
Trainer Chris Waller lets his imports develop at their own rate and in their own time. Naval Warfare
took until just before Christmas to find the winner’s circle but just 10 days later he went on a
6¼-length romp from Earth Angel, with Destiny’s Kiss another four lengths away.
“He is a horse that was gelded after running in the Brisbane Cup in the winter and he is a real
stayer,” Waller said. “This is his second preparation, and once these horses get a win they can make
big improvements.
“He can go to the Australia Day Cup next, but there might be a bigger race for him in time.”
All five jockeys from the race ended up in the stewards room after interference on the first turn and
in the straight, where Destiny’s Kiss was checked at the 300m mark, for which Earth Angel’s jockey
Rachel King was given a three-meeting ban.
The incident didn’t help Corey Brown on Naval Warfare, but he got him into a good rhythm before
charging away in the straight.
“He might be a real nice horse. The way he extended in the straight was very impressive,” Brown
said. “He is a very strong stayer.”
Naval Warfare was one of four winners for Waller at Randwick on Tuesday. The trainer also led
Gayatri, Bring The Magic and Seles into the winner’s stall on the first day of the year.
“A day like this is a reward for my team and the efforts they have put in over Christmas,” Waller
said. “You can’t do that without good staff, and it is a tough time of year with a lot of racing and
celebrating.”
Meanwhile, Racing NSW stewards have moved Saturday’s Warwick Farm meeting to the Kensington track at Randwick to gain some relief from the expected heat. Chief steward Marc Van Gestel said the decision was taken with horse and jockey welfare in mind as well as all participants. “The forecast is for 39 with little or no breeze out at Warwick Farm, while back towards the coast it will be cooler,” Van Gestel said. “We wanted to be proactive and take the decision before acceptances. We want a safe working enviroment for everyone, and horse welfare is very important in that sort of heat. “The forecast is for a strong breeze at Randwick, which will have a significant cooling effect, but we will still have our protocols in effect.” The same meeting last year was shifted due to hot weather. “It is something we are reviewing and will probably look to change the date to another track next year,” Australian Turf Club general manager James Heddo said. “We want to support Warwick Farm but this time of year is probably not the right time for them out there.” The change in track means two 1200m will be reduced to 1150m, while the 1600m races will drop back to 1550m. Several Warwick Farm trainers were frustrated about the move as they had targeted the meeting on their home track. They pointed out that they would lose all the advantages they had for the meeting and would now have to travel with their horses in the heat for more than an hour. – Chris Roots, Sydney Morning Herald Looking for your Email sophie@cwallerracing.com next Off The Track to flag your interest in retired project? racehorses from CWR.
Sexy Eyes is Gosford’s Belle Of The Turf Racing in the colours of Winx, Sexy Eyes arrived in the nick of time to claim a maiden Stakes win in the $160,000 Group III Belle Of The Turf (1600m) at Gosford on Friday. The five-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon prevailed in a thrilling finish to edge out Irithea and the favourite Zumbelina, stablemate to Sexy Eyes. Sexy Eyes was given a sweet ride by Jay Ford who positioned the mare on the heels of the leaders Hussterical and Irithea. Eased out three wide at the top of the straight, Sexy Eyes appeared to be battling but the mare kept coming, hitting the front in the final stages. “She deserved that, a stakes win,” Jay Ford told Sky Racing. “She’s been a very consistent horse throughout her career. “Drew well, held out spot and always travelled very well. “I started to put her into the race coming to the bend because I felt it was going to be a sit and sprint and initially the second horse (Irithea) got away from me but slowly but surely she ground away and got her head in front where it counted.” Sexy Eyes ($4.60) defeated the Bjorn Baker-trained Irithea ($6) by a half-head with $3.10 punter’s elect Zumbelina a head away in third. Last year’s winner Pecans ($8) was beaten 1-1/4 lengths into fifth. The win was the fifth from 13 starts for Sexy Eyes and took her earnings to more than $285,000. The victory also provided Waller with his 25th black-type winner this season and Jay Ford his third.– Racenet.com.au
Chris Waller’s last-ditch 2YO
chance for Magic Millions
Chris Waller could be left without a runner in the $2million Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic
– but if he qualifies one for the rich race at the last minute, then look out.
That’s the verdict from Waller’s Queensland stable manager Paul Shailer ahead of Lubuk’s last-ditch
attempt to get into the Magic Millions field.
Lubuk, who caught plenty of eyes when finishing strongly for fourth on debut behind The Odyssey
in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben, needs to win the Follow Aquis On Facebook 2YO
Handicap (1100m) on Saturday at the Gold Coast to gain a start in the Magic Millions a week later.
Lubuk currently has just $6,250 in prize money, meaning he needs to collect the $61,000 first prize
on Saturday to climb into the Magic Millions field
The colt is currently a best-priced $8 to win on Saturday and $51 is available for him to win the
Magic Millions on January 12.
Lubuk will be ridden by Larry Cassidy on Saturday, the same jockey who rode him when he was run
off his feet early in the Phelan Ready Stakes.
At one stage the colt was 10 lengths off the lead and did plenty wrong, wanting to hang in the
straight, but finished with a head of steam just under two lengths off the winner.
Importantly, blinkers go on for the first time on Saturday and Shailer believes that can make a huge
difference.
Shailer holds Lubuk in high esteem and says he can win on Saturday and make a big impact in the
Magic Millions the following Saturday.
“It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if he won well on Saturday and got into the Magic Millions and
was able to give it a big shake,” Shailer said.
“He did plenty wrong in his first start but the blinkers have sharpened him up and importantly we
have drawn a good barrier (5).
“It will allow Larry to be a little bit positive with him as I wouldn’t want the same thing to happen
again as happened on his debut, when he was out the back and off the bridle.
“The blinkers really seemed to have worked for him at trackwork and he continues to improve both
mentally and physically all the time.”
Lubuk is owned by some of Waller’s biggest clients including Winx’s co-owner Peter Tighe, Christine
Cook, Noel Greenhalgh, Neil Werrett and the trainer himself.
Lubuk was scratched from last Saturday’s B.J McLachlan Stakes after drawing a wide barrier, saved
for the last-chance saloon of the Gold Coast race on Saturday to try to get into the Magic Millions.
Colt Krameric is another Magic Millions 2YO Classic hopeful for Waller but will need some luck to
get in as he appears to currently sit just outside the likely field.
Krameric is not racing on Saturday and the winner of the Gold Coast race on Saturday could also be
potentially elevated ahead of him in the Magic Millions ballot order.
Waller set up a Queensland stable partially in a bid to target Gold Coast Magic Millions riches.
The champion Sydney trainer has never had a Magic Millions 2YO winner.– Racenet.com.au
Winx again the star of the show As she has for the past three years, Winx won every race she ran in and set standards no other is likely to achieve. With the clock ticking on her career, Australian racing must steel itself for life after the champion who is being prepared for her swan song in the autumn. She will follow the routine that has served her well with a possible four more races left. Winx ended her 2018 campaign with an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate win, her 22nd at Group One level and her 29th victory in a row. In the course of the year, Winx made her way on to a mural in a Melbourne street, a postage stamp and a beer can with plans afoot to build a life-size statue at Rosehill Racecourse. Her year began a little later than planned when her jockey Hugh Bowman was suspended and unavailable for the Group Two Apollo Stakes. Such is the continuity of her training and racing, trainer Chris Waller and the mare's owners decided not to run her without him. It wasn't because they didn't think another jockey could not win on her, it was more they thought another jockey might find the pressure off the track in the lead-up to the race too much. "Hugh Bowman is a very important part of Winx and we feel we can go straight into the Chipping Norton Stakes first-up," Waller said. Go straight to the Group One race she did and straight to her 16th win at the highest level, seven lengths ahead of Prized Icon. Happy Clapper finished within three-quarters of a length in the George Ryder, the closest any horse came to Winx in 2018. She signed off for the autumn with a seemingly routine win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Once her spring campaign was confirmed, the publicity machine was in overdrive heading to the Cox Plate. To get there she began in the race renamed in her honour, before going to the George Main Stakes and Turnbull Stakes. The build-up at Moonee Valley was like no other with the Europeans giving Benbatl a chance. As she looped the field rounding the turn, he was no chance. Her record says she is the best. The public says she is the best and an online poll conducted from the United States, says she is the most popular horse in the world. A scandal in Victoria involving high profile trainer Robert Smerdon and a race day treatment regime conducted by text message, was put aside for the Melbourne spring carnival which continued to deliver. Like the international participation or not, the European horses were out in force, in particular Godolphin. Saeed bin Suroor won the Caulfield Stakes with Benbatl and the Caulfeld Cup with Best Solution while fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby brought Jungle Cat to win the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Cross Counter to claim the biggest prize of all, the Melbourne Cup. Darren Weir remains the country's most prolific trainer while Chris Waller ended the year with 17 Group One trophies headed by Winx (7) and The Autumn Sun (3). - AAP
Bowman on a high with a relaxed
Winx as they near trials
Star Dunedoo jockey Hugh Bowman has been given all the right signs as Winx closes in on her first
public appearance of 2019.
Bowman had his second feel of Winx in trackwork on Tuesday and said the 22-time Group 1 winner
is relaxed and taking everything in her stride.
“She’s just been pretty casual in her work at the moment but she’s very happy, very relaxed.
Probably the most relaxed she’s been,’’ Bowman said.
“She still works extremely well, she feels good and her temperament is good. That’s all we can go
on.
“I suppose she will go to a trial and have us scratching our heads like she always does. As long as
she goes through the same process and feels the same that’s all I’m looking for.”
Last year Winx appeared in barrier trials on January 22 and February 5 but missed the Apollo when
Bowman was suspended and connections elected not to replace him and had a third trial.
The thoroughbred then went on to win the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes and George Ryder
Stakes for the third time before taking her second Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
It’s likely that Winx will take a similar path in 2019 and, if she completes the preparation Waller
alluded to when he announced late last year she’d keep racing, it sets up an unmissable day at The
Championships on April 13.
Bowman said he’s aware of the interim plan trainer, Chris Waller has for Winx and the possibility
that the ride could end at any point so he’s taking it one step at a time.
“I just go through the
process with her, I don’t
look forward or think
forward I just turn up
and do the work and go
home,’’ he said.
“I’m not thinking beyond
the trial and after that I
won’t think beyond the
next trial.’’
Winx ended 2018 as
equal with English
champion Cracksman
as the world’s best
racehorse and the
leading mare on the
planet.
When it comes time for
her to resume in the
Apollo she’ll be chasing
30 straight wins at her
40th start.
“It’s hard for me to comprehend the enormity of the situation because we are still in it,’’ Bowman said. “I’m well aware of the fame she brings and how popular she is around the globe. It’s been that way for 12 or 18 months so it’s something we are used to. There’s a lot of people with a lot of opinions but at the end of the day it’s all about the horse. Dates are yet to be confirmed for Winx’s first trial of what could be her final preparation but there is a set at her home track at Rosehill on January 15, aligning with the traditional path for the mare of two trials ahead of an expected return in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, February 16. “As long as she’s happy and healthy that’s all that matters.” - Ray Hickson The countdown to the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale is on...and we can’t wait to see the Class of ‘19 follow in the footsteps of the #StarMillionairesClub
Getting to know Alexia Ferrer Alexia Ferrer is one of our Rosehill- based trackwork riders and took time out this week to tell us a bit about herself. “I was 18 when I started riding horses and then I went on my own at 19 into race horses.” “I rode around 60 races on the flat but I preferred jumps races and I was lucky to ride around 60 jump races in France.” Nickname? Lexi. Best Quote? ‘Being happy never goes out of style.’ Favourite Part of the job? Riding. Favourite Horse? Press Box. Best Horse ever seen? Winx. Role Model? Dalai Lama. Favourite Food? Japanese Favourite Jockey? Christophe Soumillon. If you weren’t in racing, what would you have done? If I was not riding, I would have been a stewardess. If you could invite two people for dinner, who would you invite? Barack Obama and Dalai Lama Event in the world that you would most like to attend? Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua. What would you do with your last $5? I would buy a packet of Tim Tams. Tip for the weekend? Charlayne (pictured).
THE
GREG TOBIN
RIGHT
Let’s face it, the view from the rear vision mirror is always a lot clearer than the
road ahead. As that wise old punter, Socrates, once said, “hindsight is 20-20”.
92 / THE RIGHT GUYGUY WINX
LOTS TO LIKE ABOUT
2019 / 93
READ THE FULL MAGIC MILLIONS MAGAZINE.For instance, at the 2013 Gold Coast Magic was trainer, Gerald Ryan who would instead buy
Millions Yearling Sale, 714 youngsters would an Encosta de Lago colt they named Rubick, who
be sold, of which 570 became winners. went on to win multiple Group races – one of those
at two – and later be sold to stud for millions.
Among the many success stories, quite
a few won Group Ones and a whole lot The successful bidder though was Magic Bloodstock
more were successful at stakes level. which had commissioned leading bloodstock agent, Guy
Mulcaster, to buy them a filly “around the $200,000 mark”.
Yet only one of them was Winx. And, given Mulcaster is the first to admit that when it comes
we’re only ever likely to see one like her in our to buying yearlings, we can all admire the chassis,
lifetimes, it’s a good one to hang your hat on. but none of us can lift the bonnet. That said,
Mulcaster has a mighty successful ‘eye’.
But what made Lot 329 – the Street Cry filly from
Vegas Showgirl – stand out from, say, the yearling Although it wasn’t a decisive factor, Mulcaster had seen
in the ring immediately beforehand (sold to Hong Winx’s mum, Vegas Showgirl race to multiple stakes success
There were Kong for $260,000) or the colt sold two lots after at two in New Zealand, but had his first real good look at
no cheers, no which was knocked down for $320,000? the Street Cry filly when visiting Coolmore before the sale.
“I inspect the vast majority of Gold Coast yearlings in the
drum roll …
Peter O’Brien, who was ground control for Coolmore
Australia at the time, had an inkling that the filly months leading into the sale and that’s whittled down
after all, 60 might be something out of the box. Bred by his good to about 30% of the catalogue by the time you get to the
mate, John Camilleri, O’Brien was there when the actual sale,” Mulcaster explains. “After another round
other yearlings filly foaled and reckons she was up on her feet in 10
minutes. That really is “highly unusual” and we eagerly
of inspections, the list moves down to some 70 or 80
yearlings and that’s when you then do your best to ‘value’
would sell for await the reconstruction in ‘Winx – the movie’. them, leaving you with a short list of around 25 to 30.
more money at Fast forward the clock by 14 months and when the
filly made it into the Gold Coast ring late on a Thursday
“We ended up buying six at the sale.”
the Gold Coast
(Aside from Winx, another among the six was Amicus, who
afternoon, film records show that bidding kicked off at
won a Group One Thousand Guineas over $800,000 and is
in 2013.
$40,000 before, all up, people raised the finger 19 times:
part-owned by Winx’s part-owner, Debbie Kepitis. You might
the yearling eventually knocked down for $230,000.
have seen her before … smallish woman. Glasses. Wears
There were no cheers, no drum roll … after purple. Cheers a lot. Also known as the face of all that is fun
all, 60 other yearlings would sell for more about Australian racing).
money at the Gold Coast in 2013.
Mulcaster gives us all hope though by suggesting there
As for the number of actual was no sudden epiphany about Winx. Nothing magical.
underbidders? The true number is Well, not at yearling stage.
never likely to surface but suffice
“She got through,” Mulcaster says simply.
to say there are a lot more of
“She had a lot about her that was right, but
them in January 2019 then
there was nothing that amazing.”
there were in January 2013.
Nothing clearly that said buy me and I’ll win four Cox Plates!
Rumour has it that one
of the underbidders Mulcaster works in closely with good friend and
94 / THE RIGHT GUYfellow Kiwi, Chris Waller, whom we now like to claim
as our own … along with Phar Lap, Russell Crowe
– the Gladiator version – and Keith Urban.
So, with his insider knowledge, when did Mulcaster first
realise that Winx was going to be well, um, Winx?
“She just kept improving every step of the way,” Mulcaster
adds. “She was acceptable at two (winning two from
two), showed a lot of good signs at three (winning the
Furious and Phar Lap at Group Two level, along with
seconds in the Flight and ATC Oaks), but then she went
up to Queensland and, the rest as they say, is history.”
History alright! The ‘streak’ began on 16 May 2015 when
she ran in the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas
and was ridden by veteran jockey, Larry Cassidy.
Driving home that night, Cassidy rang his wife, telling
her he had just piloted an equine Ferrari, adding “she
might be the best horse I’ve ever ridden”. It’s probably
worth noting that Cassidy had previously piloted
a pretty good horse by the name of Sunline.
An inauspicious start perhaps as the Sunshine Coast
Guineas generated little publicity, but Winx has
practically been a headline maker ever since.
The Queensland Oaks would follow – the first of 22
Group One victories (yes, a world record) – and so would
three Chipping Nortons, three George Mains, three
George Ryders (what is it with George?), two Queen
Elizabeths, two Turnbulls, a Doncaster, an Epsom, a Winx!,
a Caulfield Stakes and, of course, four Cox Plates.
By the time of that fourth Cox Plate she had
remained undefeated for almost 1300 days,
had beaten 69 individual Group One winners
and won $22,934,920 … the highest stakes
tally in Australian history and the second
greatest haul in world history.
Above: Bowman and Waller Speaking of the ‘world’, Winx was adjudged
Right: Winx as a yearling the best racehorse on the planet
Below: Winx Legendary throughout 2018.
Left: Guy Mulcaster
But statistics can be so clinical … they write
the history to be sure, but are only really half
the story. The other half?
Maybe it’s her sheer tenacity … particularly
when, as it has on occasion, all appeared
lost. Maybe it’s the ever cool and calm
hoop, Hugh Bowman, who forms the now traditional ‘o’ with
forefinger and thumb, or his wife Christine’s ‘I can see your
tonsils’ joy as Winx crosses the line.
Maybe it’s Debbie K, who Normie Rowe surely had in mind
when he sang Shakin’ All Over.
Maybe it’s Chris Waller who tears up every.single.time. Hey,
get with the program guys – it’s OK for men to cry. Some of us
cry because we don’t train Winx!
Maybe it’s the quiet dignity of her strapper Umut Odemislioglu
who has taught her Turkish, just as surely as she has taught
him Horse.
Or maybe it’s simply the kid perched on his dad’s shoulders,
resplendent in Winx silks and waving a Winx flag? Maybe he’ll
live to a 100 and never see her like again.
It does appear inconceivable that her four Cox Plates will
ever be matched, but really, does it matter? Is she as good as
Phar Lap. Kingston Town. Black Caviar? Who cares?
For after all, she is racing’s very essence. Its pulse.
Six years ago she was one of over 700 youngsters who went
through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale ring and
now she’s the best racehorse in the world. Long may she reign.
2019 / 95
READ THE FULL MAGIC MILLIONS MAGAZINE.Sexy Eyes celebrations.
Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography,
and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.Naval Warfare celebrations.
Bring The Magic celebrations. Seles celebrations.
Bailey and Brazilica. Liara. Solo Mission.
Religify and Egg Tart.
Lizzie on
Dancing Gidget.
Martin was chuffed to kick off
the new year with a winner in Romani Girl.
Seles.You can also read
