Funstar has given trainer Chris Waller his first win in the Flight Stakes after leading all the way in the Group One race at Randwick. Ridden by James McDonald, Funstar made her own terms and raced away to beat New Zealand filly Probabeel and Foxborough over 1600m. Funstar provided Waller and McDonald with wins in three of the first four races on Epsom Handicap day.
Year: 2019
Kolding wins Epsom for Waller/Boss combo
Jockey Glen Boss has teamed up with trainer Chris Waller to win the $1 million Epsom Handicap. On a red letter day for trainer Chris Waller, Kolding has delivered on the big stage in the Epsom Handicap, beating New Zealand cult horse Te Akau Shark. Waller-trained horses won all four Group One races in Australia on Saturday with Kolding’s win over the famous Randwick mile of special significance for trainer and jockey Glen Boss. Kolding and Te Akau Shark were the $5.50 equal favourites but the winner had four kilograms…
Rich Itch wins Listed Paris Lane Stakes
Rich Itch has relished a step up to 1400m to win the Listed Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington. Trainer Shawn Mathrick’s confidence in Rich Itch has been rewarded in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington. Stepping up to 1400m for the first time in Saturday’s race, four-year-old gelding Rich Itch ($15) settled midfield under Dwayne Dunn before reeling in leader Romancer ($5.50) to win by a half-length. Music Bay was another length away third. “I’ve been spruiking him for a long time and I just think he’ll get better,”…
Scintillating Guineas win for Catalyst
Catalyst continued his dominance of spring three-year-old racing with another breathtaking performance in Saturday’s Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). A spectacular winner of the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in his previous two starts, the super-talented son of Darci Brahma headed to Hastings on Saturday as a $1.30 favourite to complete a black-type treble. But he was caught wide after an awkward start, and rider Troy Harris had no choice but to burn some petrol and sprint forward to take…
Waller, Newnham draw first blood with 2YOs
Every Rose has won the Group Three Gimcrack Stakes, Sydney’s first two-year-old race of the season. Chris Waller is more renowned for his patience with horses than as a trainer of two-year-olds but he is not immune to the instant gratification of winning juvenile races. Global Quest gave the premier trainer just his second win in the Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday, two years after he broke his duck with Performer. Waller says he enjoys training the babies because the precocious ones are so straightforward. “It happens…
Baccarat Baby earns Group 1 Melbourne campaign
Baccarat Baby is headed towards the Group One Empire Rose Stakes after winning at Eagle Farm. Baccarat Baby booked a ticket to Melbourne for the spring carnival after her first-up win in the Gallopers Sports Club Handicap at Eagle Farm. Trainer David Vandyke said the $1 million Group One Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares at Flemington on Derby Day will be her ultimate aim. “She was on trial today for a trip down south and she’s certainly earned it with that win,” Vandyke said. “I ran her…
Mildred unbeaten up Flemington straight
Race experience pay dividends for Mildred, winner of the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington. Trainer Grahame Begg has no doubt experience racing up the Flemington straight was a key ingredient to Mildred maintaining her unbeaten record at Flemington. A debut winner over 900m at Flemington on September 25, Mildred added the Listed Maribyrnong Stakes (1000m) to her record on Saturday. Her task was made easier with the scratching of the $3.10 favourite Deep Speed who was withdrawn at barrier. Rider Luke Currie said Deep Speed felt sore on the way…
Gotta Kiss stakes early claim for Millions
Classy filly Gotta Kiss lived up to the hype and emerged as a genuine Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender after a dominant Eagle Farm win. Bought for $150,000 at this year’s Magic Millions sales, Gotta Kiss, the $3 favourite, won the TAB 2YO Fillies Plate (1000m) by 2-1/2 lengths. Trainer Steve O’Dea hasn’t settled on a lead-up program for Gotta Kiss leading up to the Millions at the Gold Coast in January. “I haven’t really thought past today in terms of what we do, whether she has another run now…
Waller with two chances in G1 Turnbull
Leading Melbourne Cup contender Finche (r) runs in the Turnbull Stakes as part of his build-up. The path to another Melbourne Cup attempt continues for import Finche when the current favourite for this year’s $8 million race returns to Flemington for the Turnbull Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained Finche ran fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington at just his second Australian start and the gelding assumed favouritism for this year’s edition with a last-start victory in the Kingston Town Stakes in Sydney. Finche races at Flemington for the…
Hawkes bullish over Brutal return
Doncaster Mile winner Brutal is primed to kick off his Golden Eagle campaign in the Premiere Stakes. Doncaster Mile winner Brutal makes his highly anticipated spring return in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick and he is not there to make up the numbers. The Hawkes Racing four-year-old takes on Classique Legend, one of the top fancies for the $14 million Everest, and Osborne Bulls who will be out to stake his claims for Godolphin’s vacant Everest slot. Michael Hawkes, who trains Brutal in partnership with his father John and brother…