Kiwi Breds Hoping to Give Waller Epsom Success

Media Release - Friday October 4

Expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller has a strong hand in Saturday's Group I Epsom (1600m) at Randwick, led by a number of New Zealand-breds.

Kolding - image Steve HartWaller has six horses in the field, including Kolding, a $5 favourite with TAB bookmakers.

The son of Ocean Park, who was purchased by Guy Mulcaster out of Wentwood Grange's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft for $170,000, is heading into the race off the back of a last start victory in the Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.

"Kolding would be our pick along with Star Of The Seas, and the market backs this up," Waller said.

"Kolding has done a great job through the autumn and has come back very well in the spring.

"He has got Glen Boss aboard. I have been very happy with his work over the past fortnight since his good last start win."

Star Of The Seas is another New Zealand-bred contender for Waller and is rated a $19 winning chance by bookmakers.

"Star of The Seas has been set for the race for some time," Waller said. "He had no luck a fortnight ago (when finishing unplaced in the Bill Ritchie Handicap).

"Fortunately he has found his way into the race. He has drawn a little bit awkwardly (barrier 14), but Michael Dee is a good rider under these circumstances, he has won a couple of Group One miles for the stable.

"He has the blinkers back on. I think all of his wins he has had the blinkers on. We took them off for his first couple of runs this preparation."

Advertisement

Kaonic rounds out a trio of Kiwi-bred runners for Waller and he is expecting a good showing from the five-year-old after his fourth-placing in the Gr.3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) last start.

"Kaonic is never far away and has threatened to be a good horse," Waller said. "He has won some nice races and has been placed behind good horses.

"He has come back a nice horse as a gelding this prep. There was a lot of merit to his run at Newcastle when coming from a long way back.

"He gets his chance here and will be strong at the end of the mile."

Meanwhile, Waller will be looking to get Verry Elleegant's spring campaign back on track in the Gr.2 Hill Stakes (2000m) earlier in the card.

"She stepped away slightly slow (last start in the Gr.1 George Main Stakes, 1600m), we asked her to quicken to try and hold a position and she got a little bit keen as a consequence.

"We have got the right man for the job, he knows the horse well and James (McDonald, jockey) will position her where he thinks she is comfortable.

"If she is going to be running in Cox Plates (Gr.1, 2040m) or Caulfield Cups (Gr.1, 2400m) she has got to be fighting out the finish in this race." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Petrol in the Tank – Why Buying Mares from Godolphin is a Good Idea
From the point of view of the bloodstock world, Beiwacht was the most significant winner from last weekend with his Group I Golden Rose victory propelling his sire Bivouac to the top of the second season sires list, but it wasn’t just Godolphin cheering him home with a number of other Aussie breeders now invested in his family.
Oceanex Keeps the Run Going for Ocean Park
We recently stated that few stallions have done more to advance their cause in recent months than Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park and his four-year-old daughter Oceanex didn’t let us down when she proved too good in the $300,000 Group II Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
New Ocean Park SW Brings Needed Joy for Cambridge Stud
In what has proved to be a tumultuous and tragic week for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the victory of two-year-old filly Taroni and then underrated mare Pretty To Sea in the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie has brought a small measure of joy to the couple.
Golden Rose Brings Second Season Shake Up
We are two months into a new racing season and the second season sires table was given a good shake up over the weekend with the $1million Group I Golden Rose and $300,000 Group II Stutt Stakes both producing a quinella for sires in this cohort.
Jenni The Pride of Trelawney
Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night.
Out of the Park strikes again
Just two months since her purchase off gavelhouse,com, Out of the Park has repaid her $14,000 purchase price and more after striking up two wins and a placing in just four starts.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Satono’s Stunning Stats Continue as Rich Hill Sires Shine
Rich Hill Stud’s Group 1 stallion roster was the dominant force at Te Rapa’s premier meeting with their progeny claiming a feature race double.
Oceanex Keeps the Ball Rolling for Ocean Park
Karaka 2017 graduate Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park) sent her value skyrocketing with a determined victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 TAB Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.