Premiership front runner Chris Waller is on the verge of breaking the longstanding Sydney trainer’s record held jointly by legendary trainer Tommy Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse.

Red Tracer is a strong chance to hand Chris Waller another Group 1 win at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello

Smith established the record of 156 winners in the 1975-76 season while Waterhouse equalled her famous father’s milestone in the 2002-2003 season.

Waller is zeroing in the target with 152 ½ wins to date this season and no doubt will edge closer at tomorrow’s Canterbury meeting where he will saddle up ten runners on the seven race card.

If Waller falls short of the mark tomorrow, it won’t be long before he overtakes it with fourteen horses nominated for Saturday’s Randwick meeting.

Waller has the Sydney trainer’s premiership wrapped up for the third year in a row as well as being crowned the leading Group 1 trainer for the nation for the first time.

Waller can add to his eight Group 1 wins if Red Tracer or She’s Clean can take out the last Group 1 of the season, the $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Red Tracer has been knocking on the door for a Group 1 success and Waller has a soft spot in his heart for the Dane Shadow mare.

“If there’s ever been a Group One horse that hasn’t won one, surely it’s her,” Waller said.

Red Tracer was beaten twice by Appearance in consecutive Rosehill Group 1 races during the Sydney Autumn Carnival proving that she up to the class.

A gallant effort saw her fail by a nose in the $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 23 and that was followed by another top run when a half length second in the $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) on April 6.