Waller Happy With 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Duo

Chris Waller has Foreteller and Bagman in the 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes field and he is happy with both gallopers heading into the Group 2 event at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Foreteller has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Foreteller has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Foreteller did not perform at his best during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but he returned to a semblance of his best form during a winter campaign in Brisbane and he was arguably unlucky not to finish in the placings in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25, the Group 1 Doomben Cup (200m) on May 9 and the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) on May 30.

The veteran gelding returned to racing with a credible seventh behind Royal Descent in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 and he expects the eight-year-old to hit the line strongly in the final stages of the 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

“There is a fair bit of speed in the race that will suit our boys, who have both drawn bad,” Waller said.

“Foreteller will get back and storm home as he does.”

Bagman was sent back to Melbourne at the end of June and he finished a close third in the Spicer Thoroughbreds Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on July 4, but he returned to winning form with tough performances in the Briseis Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on July 18 and the Jockey Celebration Day Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on August 1.

The Easy Rocking gelding has been freshen-up specifically to target the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes this weekend and Waller is confident that the nine-year-old can replicate his third place finish from the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) 12 months ago.

“Bagman has freshened up well,” Waller said.

“We didn’t something similar last year off the back of two wins and he ran third in the Chelmsford.

“This is a similar race and I think that he can run in the money again.”

Foreteller is currently available at 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes odds of $16 with Ladbrokes, while Bagman has remained steady at $21 since the betting market was opened yesterday afternoon.

Waller is chasing his first win in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes after he finished third with Foreteller in the 2014 edition of the race, which was taken out by cult hero The Cleaner.

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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.