Chris Waller has 11 runners in the 2015 Chelmsford Stakes field, but the leading Sydney trainer believes that Kermadec and Royal Descent are his best chances in the Group 2 event that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Royal Descent is one of 11 Chris Waller-trained gallopers that is set to contest the 2015 Chelmsford Stakes this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Royal Descent has been one of the most consistent gallopers in Australia since she made her racing debut back in December of 2012 and she was finally able to return to winning form when she fought off Pornichet in the final stages of the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22.
Kermadec started the Warwick Stakes as favourite and he hit the line strongly in the final stages, but he was unable to pick up the horses that were settled in the leading group and he could finish no better than fifth.
Waller believes that Kermadec has taken plenty of benefit out of his first-up run in the Warwick Stakes and he is confident that the Teofilo entire is a winning chance in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), but he admits that he is no certainty to win the Chelmsford Stakes for the fourth year in a row.
“I think our best chances would be Kermadec and Royal Descent and even to some extent Beaten Up, who beat Kermadec home last start,” Waller said.
“Kermadec has come on well since his last start run and Royal Descent, the queen of the place, is absolutely flying.
“We have to beat Hartnell and Pornichet who are both good horses and they will be fairly forward and they are the main two to beat.”
Beaten Up is the other one of his gallopers that he believes is a winning chance in the 2015 Chelmsford Stakes field and he is hopeful that the imported galloper can record his first race win since his triumph in the 2013 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m).
The Beat Hollow gelding missed over 18 months of racing after he finished second in the 2013 edition of the Chelmsford Stakes, but he has now worked back to peak fitness after he had six race starts in the autumn, which was highlighted by his third place finish in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28.
Waller has a simply incredible record in the Chelmsford Stakes and he has not missed the placings since Triple Honour finished second behind Gallant Tess in the 2008 edition of the race.
Triple Honour finished third again in 2009 and Waller finished second with Metal Bender in the 2010 edition of the race and second again with My Kingdom Of Fife a year later before he took out the race for the first time with Danleigh in 2012.
Hawkspur and Beaten Up finished first and second for Waller in 2013 and he amazingly trained the first six horses across the line in last year’s race.
