Waller weekly news 03 APRIL, 2015 A familiar sight - Catkins and the Rosehill winning post. The past week saw the stable enjoy cheering home three winners including Catkins who strengthened her title of ‘Australia’s favourite racehorse’ with her Group 2 Emancipation Stakes win at Rosehill while talented stayer Loophole secrued his fourth victory and Mrs Kennedy broke maiden ranks. Our Saturday however started on the worst possible note with the loss of one of the stable’s gentlemen, He’s Your Man. Bred by Sven and Carina Hanson’s Fair Salinia and raced by them with some loyal stable clients, we were fortunate to have him a part of our stable for the past 18 months. The decision has also been made to retire stable favourite Permit so he heads out on the best possible note after his Group 3 Manion Cup win a fortnight ago. Having a special bond with head foreperson Annie Trollope, who fed him more than his body weight in peppermints over the years, we look forward to keeping you updated on his next phase of life. The first day of The Championships promises plenty of exciting sport for the team with two great Derby chances in Preferment and Quick Strike, Sacred Falls shooting for his third Doncaster alongside stable-mates Royal Descent, Moriarty and possibly young-gun and talented filly Always Allison contesting the Sires’ Produce. The undercard is equally as exciting with Chris and Liam offering up plenty of useful insights into our runners on the video preview - head to the website: www.cwallerracing.com to view it. In addition to the racing action, the team is busy inspecting yearlings at the Inglis Randwick complex with the iconic Easter Sale kicking off on Tuesday. If you’d like to catch up at the sales or be involved in any of the purchases, feel free to get in touch. We wish you all the very best of luck over the next week! INSIDE THIS ISSUE •WINNERS • stable primed to regain spotlight at randwick, always allison gets shot at the big time, getting to know caitlin steer & photos. www.cwallerracing.com | [email protected] | +612 9760 5700 CHRIS WALLER RACING - WINNERS THIS WEEK CATKINS 6yo M by Dubawi - Salix Caprea by Catbird The Ingham Family’s brilliant mare Catkins once again showed why she is one of the darlings of Australian racing when recording her 15th career victory in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday. Of those victories 11 have been at Listed and Group level with Saturday’s pushing her earnings to just over $1.6 million. Leading rider James McDonald was aboard the brilliant mare for the first time, giving her a textbook ride. Having begun brilliantly McDonald had her in second position throughout tracking the leader and once they straightened up he allowed her to cruise up to the front runner and only had to change his hands and she quickened away for another comprehensive victory. Her rider could afford to sit up late and have a long look at the big screen such was the ease of her victory. Having previously been agonizingly beaten at the highest level, nobody would argue that this thoroughly genuine mare deserves a Group 1 victory. LOOPHOLE 5yo G by Lonhro - Better Alternative by Flying Spur The enigmatic yet highly talented Loophole certainly put his best foot forward at Rosehill on Wednesday in the 2000m staying event. Ridden by Tommy Berry and seeming to relish the softer underfoot conditions, the half brother to stable star Preferment raced away for a dominant victory. His rider gave him plenty of time to settle early at the rear of the field before coming with a sustained run in the straight before sprinting away to score by a widening margin of over four lengths. This win was the fourth career victory for Loophole and Debbie and Paul Kepitis who race him in partnership with Peter and Patty Tighe will be hoping for a similar result on Saturday when his younger brother Preferment, in whom they share in the ownership, lines up in the ATC Derby. MRS KENNEDY 3yo F by Fastnet Rock - Miss Jakeo by Unbridled Song The promising daughter of leading sire Fastnet Rock recorded her initial success in the 1500m maiden for fillies and mares at Newcastle last Saturday. This was only her third race day appearance having shown promise when placed on debut. On Saturday her rider Thomas Huet settled her in a great position throughout the race in fourth place in the nine runner field. She travelled well during the race and was ready to strike in third position with 400m left to run. Once her rider set her alight she put the race to bed and went on to score a comfortable maiden success for her owner and breeder Gerry Harvey. We wish Mr Harvey and Jonathan Wood the best of luck with star mare Royal Descent tackling the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick tomorrow. Jonathan won the Aushorse competition to name her first foal for a share in her for the day - his fitting winning submission ‘Crown Affair’. Thanks to Bradley Photographers and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos. www.bradleyphotos.com.au CAPTION COMPETITION Last week saw our first caption competiton with Wayne Albers suggestion getting the most laughs out of the team for this photo of Paul Kepitis looking admirably at Liam. ‘Is that just gel in your hair Liam?’ At risk of becoming the Liam and Paul show, here’s another featuring the two this week thanks to a selfie at the races on Saturday with bloodstock agent, Guy Mulcaster, the Group One master. Thanks to Prestige Hire Cars, the best caption as judged by the office girls will get a $100 voucher and a CWR prize. Email your submission to haylie@cwallerracing. com by COB Wednesday 8 April. If anyone would like to offer up a prize and have their business featured in the newsletter alongisde this, let Haylie know. We’re also on the lookout for more photos for the caption competition so if you have something suitable, send it in. Premier trainer Chris Waller primed to regain autumn spotlight at Randwick Gai Waterhouse had her usual Golden Slipper fun, John O’Shea did his best to paint Rosehill Gardens Godolphin blue — now it’s time for premier trainer Chris Waller to finally wake from his Sydney autumn slumber and dominate The Championships. Australia’s top trainer has been unusually quiet the past month when it comes to local Group 1 racing, with 27 runners contesting nine majors for just five placings. That for a man who leads Waterhouse 9-5 in Group 1 wins this season. But that could change on Saturday, with Waller to start ATC Australian Derby favourite Preferment, as well as two-time Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls in the $3 million Randwick feature. Waller told The Daily Telegraph it was Doncaster day 2011 when he learnt a lesson about Group 1 expectations. “I went to bed before the Doncaster that year, thinking, ‘we’ll win this race tomorrow’, with three good chances in Triple Elegance, Danleigh and Syreon,’’ Waller said. “But it rained all night, it was a wet track, and we didn’t get sighted. I remember walking away that day feeling so despondent. “Seven days later, we won the Sydney Cup (with Stand To Gain) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (My Kingdom Of Fife) when we weren’t expected to. “That’s racing.You have good days and bad days, but you can never walk away from a racecourse thinking you own it because things can change very quickly.’’ Preferment went the closest to winning a Sydney Group 1 when just nosed out in the Rosehill Guineas. He won the VRC Derby in the spring and, as Waller said, “it was a matter of getting him back to the level he was at in the spring, and he looks like he’s there’’. Sacred Falls must lump 58kg topweight in the Doncaster, while Waller likes Royal Descent, who ran second to Sacred Falls last year. A third runner, three-year-old Kermadec, is given a hope, but is second emergency and sweating on a start. Should he miss out, he’s likely to be saved for the All Aged Stakes in a fortnight. “Sacred Falls was only fair last start, but he’s fit, he won with a bit up his sleeve last year, and that’s why I’m hoping he can carry that extra weight this year,’’ Waller said. “Royal Descent carries the same weight as last year and is coming off a terrific run. But like Sacred Falls (barrier 20), she’s drawn wide (18).’’ Always Allison contests the Group 1 Sires’ Produce on Saturday with Joao “The Magic Man’’ Moreira to steer. Waller’s office has a wall full of photos of his Group 1 wins. There’s room for two more before he’ll need to find more space. He joked he might need that new wall come Sunday. Either way, it’s likely to be filled by the end of The Championships with Cox Plate winner Adelaide to run in next Saturday’s $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Catkins to start favourite in the Queen Of The Turf, and Winx and Ballet Suite live ATC Oaks hopes. The sleeping giant might finally awake this Sydney autumn. Source: Christian Nicolussi, Herald Sun. Always Allison get her shot at the big time in the Sires Produce Stakes Champion trainer Chris Waller has learnt not to dwell on the past when it comes to his horses but that has been difficult with Always Allison.The talented filly arrived at his stables after Golden Slipper nominations had closed and there was always the feeling that could be an opportunity missed. But it is one she could make up for in the Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. "She wasn't in the Slipper, so it wasn't really in our thinking. However, once they start to do what she did, you think about it," Waller said. "But it wasn't mean to be. "There aren't that many group 1s for two-year-old so when you have a filly like her you want to try at that level." Always Allison won her debut at Warwick Farm before scoring in the Sweet Embrace Stakes, which opened the door on the possibility of paying a late entry for the Golden Slipper. It came down to the Magic Night Stakes. But luck deserted the More Than Ready filly as she was held-up and checked in the straight, going to the line really untested. "She had no luck last start and was very good before that," Waller said. "It was the Percy Sykes or the Sires and I would rather go a week earlier and it is a group 1. "She is ready to race, but you are always thinking have we gone one run too many with her but I don't think we have left it on the track with her." Joao Moreira has been booked for the ride on Always Allison but will need to be at his best to overcome barrier 11. "It is another one of those things you can't do anything about," Waller said. "You talk a lot about barriers before a race but rarely after it and I think she should get her chance over the 1400m." Waller has a strong influence on the Doncaster with Sacred Falls, Royal Descent and Moriarty assured runs and the Australian Derby favourite in Preferment, which returned to his best in the Rosehill Guineas when photo finished by Volkstok'n'barrell. "He showed in the Rosehill Guineas he just needed to get to a trip," Waller said. "I think he will be a dominate group 1 horse at 2400m and he has improved since that run. "He showed at Flemington how strong he is over the extra trip, even when he was three-wide and I think he will be hard to beat again." Source: Chris Roots, Sydney Morning Herald. GETTING TO KNOW caitlin steer Rosehill-based strapper Caitlin Steer grew up in the Southern Highlands and started riding at age eight. Dressage is her true passion and her dream was always to compete for the Australian team at the Olympics. When she was old enough, Caitlin started volunteering at riding camps during the school holidays at Centennial Park Equestrian Centre and once old enough to actually work, moved around through different dressage stables. On the thoroughbred side, she also got valuable experience working at Arrowfield Stud for a few months including helping at the Magic Millions sales. Said Caitlin of her riding opportunities these days “I don’t get to ride much now but I get my horsey fill every day working with the beautiful animals I have the privilege of being involved with at Chris Waller Racing.” Nickname? Cait, Caitie, Kitty. Best quote? So many books, so little time. Favourite part of the job? Working with such incredible horses and learning as much as I can! Favourite horse? Catkins (or Kittykins as I like to call her)! She’s probably the most perfect horse I’ve ever dealt with and it’s a complete privilege getting to handle her every day. Best horse ever seen? Black Caviar. Role model? Both of my parents. They’re the strongest two people I’ve ever encountered and they work their butts off. Favourite food? Chicken schnitzel and chips. Favourite jockey? Tye Angland. He always rides to the best of his ability and I trust him to get the absolute best out of my horses. If you weren’t in racing, what would you have done? Probably become a cat vet! If you could invite two people for dinner, who would you invite? My late grandpa Peter and Stephen King. Event in the world that you would most like to attend? The FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in Las Vegas. What would you do with your last $5? Buy an old copy of Misery by Stephen King. Tip for the weekend? Royal Descent. This is her year! Who Am I? Moriarty! Congratulations to Tony Ristevski, part owner in Hawkspur, who correctly guessed the Group 1 winning silhouette in last week’s newsletter. Posers - Loophole and Catkins! Paul Kepitis and Peter and Patty Tighe celebrate Loophole’s win. Modrich looking the part at the Flemington jump outs. Justine and Redioactive. Double Happy trying out his selfie stick in the pool. Jarred and Permit. Sacred Falls and Rob. ‘I hope that’s all for me’ Sozzini. Two of our more fashionable owners resorted to their lucky pants and shoes at the races on Wednesday, resulting in Loophole winning! More of this please! Getting the Royal Treatment - Royal Descent having a massage ahead of her big assignment tomorrow - The Doncaster! Jazz and Our Voodoo Prince. Celebrating another brilliant Catkins victory for the Ingham Family. Devinder and She’s Clean.
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