In the midst of rewriting thoroughbred racing’s history Chris Waller is continually astounded by the horse.
The Kiwi-trainer now setting records in Australia, via training operations at Rosehill and Flemington, has four horses in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
“If you told me I’d have a favourite for the Caulfield Cup 11 months ago I would have said Kelinni for sure,” Waller said yesterday morning just prior to boarding a plane out of Sydney.
“But as we know with racing things can change.”
Kelinni, a fourth place getter in last year’s Melbourne Cup, is being quoted at around $41 for the first leg of the famed cups double but Waller does have the favourite.
His Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur, who is set to provide Hall of Fame jockey Jim Cassidy with a 100th group 1 win, heads betting on the Caulfield Cup.
Hawkspur is hovering around the $4.50 mark while Waller’s run-a-way ATC Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent is quoted at $6.50 while you can get better than $26 about stablemate Moriarty.
“Before the barrier draw came out Hawkspur was my pick, now I’ve got a slight leaning to Royal Descent,” Waller said.
Hawkspur will be launched from barrier 14 should the emergencies come out while Royal Descent will start from barrier three.
“Royal Descent had had the perfect prep until she run into traffic problems last start, not once but several times,” Waller said.
“Prior to that she had run second in weight-for-age company at group 1 level when beaten narrowly by Streama.
“She has drawn perfectly, she is a quality horse and Nash Rawiller knows her very well.”
Waller reckons “Hawkspur has had the perfect prep in my opinion” and added “obviously he has been set for the race”.
“He gets in well at the handicaps, certainly now he is a group 2 winner since the weights were released.”
And the Cassidy factor is a major plus. The Grand Slam winning rider has won Caulfield Cups on Might And Power (1997) and Diatribe (2000).
“It’s just a privilege to be a part of his career,” Waller said.
“There have been a lot of jockeys at the top for 10 years however he has been there for 30 years.
“The barrier, that’s Jim’s job and if anyone can get it right he can.”
The decline in Kelinni’s form is a worry for Waller said the stayer “is a sound and healthy horse” while adding “put simply he has lost all form”.
“I thought he was a certainty last start where finished at the tail of field,” Waller said.
“I’m clinging to the fact it may have been a tempo related result. He should get a nice run from barrier one. His work on the training track has been faultless.”
As for Moriarty Waller replied “he is a genuine group 2 horse, still trying to prove himself at this level” and “I don’t think he was suited by the slower tempo in the Metrop, I’m hoping he can rise to the occasions tomorrow”.
And Waller knows it is all about the team.
“Getting four horses into a big race like this is a team effort and I’ve got to thank them for that,” Waller said. “Not just this week but each and every week.”
As for the rest of the team well Waller reckons top class mare Red Tracer and the Epsom Handicap winner Boban “will be hard to beat at Flemington, likewise She’s Clean at Randwick”.
By Craig Young
