Waller’s longshots specked in Chelmsford Stakes

Premier trainer Chris Waller’s longshots, Who Shot Thebarman and Preferment, have both been specked at big odds in the Group 2 $250,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Victoria Derby winner Preferment has come in for some early support in the betting for the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Victoria Derby winner Preferment has come in for some early support in the betting for the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Waller will saddle up eleven of the sixteen runners in the weight for age feature and considers his two at the top of the market order, Kermadec and Royal Descent, as his best chances.

“I think our best chances would be Kermadec and Royal Descent and even to some extent Beaten Up, who beat Kermadec home last start,” Waller said.

“Kermadec has come on well since his last start run and Royal Descent, the queen of the place, is absolutely flying.

“We have to beat Hartnell and Pornichet who are both good horses and they will be fairly forward and they are the main two to beat.”

Ladbrokes.com.au have installed Kermadec as the $4 second favourite behind the John O’Shea trained Harnell at $3 with Royal Descent marked at $4.80 but Who Shot Thebarman and Preferment have been significant market movers.

Melbourne Cup placegetter Who Shot Thebarman opened up at $51 but has some supporters at his first run back after running second to stablemate Grand Marshall in the Group 1 $1.6m Schweppes 150th Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and is now into $34.

Who Shot Thebarman has proven himself to be a genuine two miler and as well as finishing third to Protectionist in the 2014 Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington, had earlier in the year won the Group 1 NZ$500,000  Barefoot & Thompson Auckland Cup over 3200m at Ellerslie in New Zealand.

Victoria Derby winner Preferment is also resuming for the Spring and has some admirers with a small amount of early money trimming his price up from $81 to $67.

Preferment showed his class with a win in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival but failed to find the winner’s stall from four runs during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Preferment’s best effort against the three year olds in the Autumn was a second to Volkstok’N’Barrell in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill but then he was well beaten as favourite when eighth to Mongolian Khan in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 6.

Waller’s other Chelmsford Stakes runners are Beaten Up ($14), Hawkspur ($41), I’m Imposing ($51), Moriarty ($81), Junoob ($101), Grand Marshall ($101), Opinion ($101).

The Gai Waterhouse trained Pornichet is high up in the market order at $5 following his first up second to Royal Descent in the Group 2 $250,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22.

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.