Chris Waller’s monumental season had a fitting sidebar at Canterbury on Wednesday when he won the race named in his honour.
Waller saddled up two runners in the Congratulations Chris Waller Handicap (1900m) and came away with the spoils when Seuss scored a determined victory.
It came just four days after Waller eclipsed the record of 156 Sydney winners in a season which had been held by T J Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse, a feat which prompted the naming of Wednesday’s event.
Waller had been under intense media scrutiny as he edged closer to setting a new training benchmark and after surpassing it at the weekend, he was as relieved as he was proud.
With the pressure off, a relaxed Waller could see the funny side of Wednesday’s win.
“I’d just like to thank the sponsor of the race,” he said.
Seuss was his only winner on Wednesday’s seven-race card and took his season tally to 160-1/2.
Since Oompa Loompa delivered Waller his record at Rosehill on Saturday – with three stablemates adding to the tally later on the program – Waller admitted he had stopped doing the maths.
“I lost count after Oompa Loompa,” he said.
Waller will have up to 12 runners at Warwick Farm on Saturday, including the in-form Clever Boy in the Mitsubishi Mirage Mile (1600m).
