Waller dominates Warwick Stakes nominations

Chris Waller’s domination of Sydney racing is set to continue with the premiership winning trainer providing half of the eighteen nominations for the Group 2 $175,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls is one of nine Chris Waller horses entered in Warwick Stakes.

Dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls is one of nine Chris Waller horses entered in Warwick Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Group 1 winners Boban, Hawkspur, My Kingdom Of Faith, Royal Descent and Sacred Falls are entered along with Junoob, Moriarty, Our Voodoo Prince, and Weary.

Dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls and 2013 Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent are set to resume in the Warwick Stakes and the prospect of another wet track in Sydney this weekend won’t worry Waller with both horses collecting Group 1 victories on heavy tracks.

Royal Descent is a proven wet tracker with a ten lengths win in a very heavy conditions in the Group 1 $550,000 Patinack Farm Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick during the 2013 Autumn Carnival.

The Redoute’s Choice mare also performed well when second to Scared Falls when he won his second Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 12, both on heavy tracks.

“I’m really excited by Royal Descent and Sacred Falls, who are weight-for-age horses,’’ Waller toldThe Daily Telegraph.

“Royal Descent has come back well and she’s in for a good preparation.

“The Warwick Stakes is a good starting point for these horses without ­putting them under too much pressure. They’ll go to their various destinations from there.

“I’m fortunate because I’ve got some versatile horses who can handle wet tracks. In the modern era we get a lot of wet tracks.”

Tommy Berry will back on Sacred Falls, replacing Zac Purton who is out injured and Kerrin McEvoy will ride Royal Descent.

But Waller will be reluctant to start triple Group 1 winner Boban on a rain affected track and is considering  changing his Spring Carnival program and head to Melbourne for the Group 1 $400,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield the following week.

“The weather is a query with him,” Waller said.

“If it was slow or worse we could save him for the Memsie. That looks like a nice race for him.”

Noted wet tracker Tiger Tees could make a return to Sydney racing in the Warwick Stakes with the prospect of a rain affected track luring Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride.

Pride took Tiger Tees to Melbourne for a win up the Flemington straight in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) on August 9 and said on twitter he would go around at Randwick on a wet track.

“Tiger tees will run in W Stakes sat wet track for sure !” Pride tweeted.

Other notable entries in the Warwick Stakes are Sydney Autumn Carnival Group 1 winners Criterion, Dissident and Lucia Valentina.

The David Payne trained Criterion collected two Group 1 trophies with wins in the $500,000 TAB.com.au Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill and the $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Peter Moody’s Dissident broke through for his initial Group 1 win in the $600,000 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick while Lucia Valentina took out the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

Promising stayer La Amistad will be resuming for Team Hawkes who have also nominated Messene who impressed with a first up second to Sweet Idea in the Group 2 $175,000 McGrath Estate Agents Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 9.

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.