Chipping Norton Stakes 2015: Three Winning Chances For Waller

Chris Waller has eight horses in the 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes field, but the leading trainer believes that Boban, He’s Your Man and Weary are his only genuine winning chances in the Group 1 event at Warwick Farm tomorrow.

He's Your Man is one of Chris Waller's best chances in the 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

He’s Your Man is one of Chris Waller’s best chances in the 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Boban made a slow start to his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign when he failed to fire in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31 and only produced a slightly better effort when seventh in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 14.

Waller admits that Boban is not in the best of form, but he told Racing Ahead that the Bernardini gelding had been set for the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and he said that he would not be surprised if the enigmatic galloper returned to his best tomorrow.

“Boban is one of the main chances, his form might not look great, but he has had the same preparation as last year and there is a sense of timing about it because he did win the race last year,” Waller said.

“I would be the first to admit that he is not in the best form, but he has been prepared for the race.”

He’s Your Man stamped himself as a genuine Group 1 galloper when he won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and finished second in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and he returned to racing with a credible sixth in the Apollo Stakes.

Waller said that He’s Your Man took plenty of benefit out of his Apollo Stakes run and he believes that the imported galloper will produce an improved effort in the Chipping Norton Stakes this weekend.

“He’s Your Man is certainly a good chance,” Waller said.

“He needed the run first-up and he will be fitter and will appreciate the mile tomorrow.”

Imported galloper Weary failed to fire during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he returned to his best form with a win in the Expressway Stakes before he finished a credible third in the Apollo Stakes.

Waller has been thrilled with the way that Weary has performed in his two race starts this preparation and he feels that a little bit of rain in Sydney this weekend will increase the chances of the Astronomer Royal gelding.

“Weary is in the good chance category,” Waller said.

“He has proven that this prep when he won the Expressway first-up and was third in the 1400 weight-for-age last start.

“The mile should suit, especially if there is a bit of rain about.”

Weary is currently available at 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes odds of $9 and is the most fancied of the Waller runners with Ladbrokes from He’s Your Man ($12) and Boban ($13).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.