Two time Sydney training premiership winner Chris Waller is off to a flying start with twelve winners already this season and is hoping old stager Danleigh can add to the new tally at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Danleigh

Danleigh will resume in the Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm. Photo by: Steve Hart

Nine year old Danleigh is resuming in the Group 2 WFA $175,000 Warwick Stakes(1400m) and Waller is hoping the predicted rain will arrive for the weekend.

Five of Danleigh’s nine wins have been on a slow surface and a wet track would greatly assist the veteran gelding’s first up effort.

Danleigh has won once from twelve first-up starts but has been placed on five other occasions and Waller has prepared the nine year old for his first start since finishing down the track in the Group 1 $2m BMW Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 21 with two barrier trials.

“Danleigh will be our only runner in the Warwick Stakes and I would like to see the rain come for him to be able to show his best,” Waller said.

Danleigh, a four time Group 1 winner, failed to win a race during the Autumn but was placed third to Rain Affair in the Group 2 $250,000 Hako Australia Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 25.

The Mujahid gelding then finished second to stable mate Shoot Out in the Group 1 $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 10 on a slow track.

The Warwick Stakes has attracted a high quality field including Group 1 winners Lights Of Heaven, and Secret Admirer, as well as Queensland visitor Bold Glance and the well performed Centennial Park.

Centennial Park ran an honest first-up second to Pinwheel in the Group 3 $125,000 McGrath Missile Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on August 11 and trainer David Payne is expecting another solid showing.

“He came through his last race in great order,” Payne said.

“He will run well as he always does.”

Waller also has three year old Jade Marauder resuming in the Group 3 $125,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm, coming up against the promising She’s A Fox from the Anthony Cummings stable.

She’s A Fox will again be the short priced favourite after creating a huge impression with two dominant Warwick Farm wins at two runs from a break and Cummings is confident that the filly will head to the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 15 as one of the top chances.

Jade Marauder is having her first run since beating one runner home when fifteenth to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7 after winning the Group 3 $125,000 Les Johnson Memorial Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 17.

Waller, who won his second Bart Cummings medal for his training feats, followed stable procedures and sent Jade Marauder around in two Randwick barrier trials for her return to the racetrack.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.