Chris Waller may have set a new Sydney trainers’ premiership record on Saturday but he already has his sights on next season and has outlined the Spring Carnival plans for his host of Group 1 winners.
Foreteller is one of Chris Waller's stars that will return to track work this week. Photo by: Steve Hart
Waller will finish the 2012/2013 racing season as the nation’s leading Group 1 trainer, after recording nine wins at the highest level of racing, and is keen to continue his success this spring.
Group 1 winners Beaten Up, Foreteller and Hawkspur are all set to return to trackwork this week as will tough stayer Kelinni.
European import Beaten Up joined the Waller stable at the start of 2013 and won the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) at just his fourth start in Australia.
The five-year-old gelding is a proven weight-for-age performer and Waller has big plans for him this spring.
“Beaten Up will be set for races like the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate,” Waller told News Limited.
Foreteller was one of the surprise packets of the 2013 Autumn Racing Carnival and was unlucky not to finish the season as a multiple Group 1 winner.
The imported gelding upset 2012 Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar to win the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) before finishing a narrow runner-up in the both the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and Doomben Cup.
Waller said he has the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) in mind for the Dansili six-year-old with the Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Turnbull Stakes (2000m) likely to be on the agenda.
Two-year-old Zoustar recorded three wins from four starts in his rookie campaign but fell just short of a maiden Group 1 victory when finishing second to Romantic Touch in the J.J. Atkins (1600m).
Waller believes the Northern Meteor colt still has room for improvement and will be a major player in the 2013 Golden Rose (1400m).
“Zoustar will be aimed at the Golden Rose,” Waller said.
“He’s a horse who hasn’t been bottomed out, and hopefully he’s still on the up.”
The Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) was one of the few Sydney-based Group 1 races that Waller failed to win this season and he is targeting a strong trio of horses at the 2013 edition of the race.
“The Metropolitan is in mind for Hawkspur, Moriarty and Studio,” Waller said.
Progressive stayer Kelinni will once again be set for the Melbourne Cup after his fourth place finish in 2012.
The son of Refuse to Bend recorded an impressive victory carrying 60kg in the Listed Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) this autumn but flopped as favorite in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) a week later.
The 2012/2013 season is not yet over for Waller and he has the opportunity to reach a total of 170 Sydney winners with seven city meetings remaining.
