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Waller Weekly News 3 August 2018
The team rounded off the season in fine style and kicked off the new season with a bang with 10
winners in the past week including four at our Rosehill home-base on Saturday plus Irish Optimism
winning at Doomben. That took us to five metro winners on Saturday with all secured for the stable
as either yearlings or tried horses via our sales team headed up by bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster.
In addition to finishing another record-breaking season, we also celebrated the horse’s birthday
this week with some extra carrots. Over the coming weeks we will bring you some of the team’s
highlights from the past season and their horses to follow this season.
Things are really starting to heat up with all of our carnival horses in the stable and they’re getting
closer to resuming while we have a few opportunities available to race horses with our team
available. If you are interested in receiving more information, email Liam.
We wish all of our connections the best of luck and a safe weekend!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
• Winners
• News & photos
www.cwallerracing.com | admin@cwallerracing.com | +612 9760 5700
Chris Waller Racing - Winners This Week
Paret
4yo G Harbour Watch - Enduja by
Encosta De Lago
This son of Harbour Watch built on a
promising fresh up run when taking out
a 1400m race on Saturday at Rosehill.
In form hoop Hugh Bowman was on
board and he buried him away towards
the rear early on before picking his way
through the field in the straight and
producing Paret to hit the front inside
the final furlong to record a stylish
victory.
Mister Sea Wolf
6yo G Amadeus Wolf - Rose De France
by Diktat
This former Irish galloper had been
rather luckless in his previous starts
since joining the stable but he gained
a well deserved initial Australian
success when taking out the Listed
Winter Challenge Stakes at Rosehill on
Saturday over 1500m.
Jason Collett showed his talent riding
a patient race by settling the son of
Amadeus Wolf in a midfield spot early
on before coming with a beautifully
timed challenge to get on top close to
home for a promising success.
Raqeeq
4yo G Champs Elysees - Sailors Path
by New Approach
This former French galloper has been a
consistent performer since arriving in
Australia and the son of Champs Elysees
gained his second Australian victory at
Rosehill on Saturday over 2000m under
Kerrin McEvoy.
McEvoy settled Raqeeq back worse
than midfield early and he travelled strongly into the straight.
He subsequently let down strongly for an impressive victory in the Go Racing silks and looks a highly
promising stayer for us all going forward.
Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography,
Ross Stevenson and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.
Huangshan
4yo G Redoute’s Choice - Majestic Girl
by Galileo
The son of Redoute’s Choice built
on a confidence boosting win at the
provincial at his previous start when
scoring a city win at Rosehill on
Saturday over 2000m.
Hugh Bowman took the mount and
once again he showed his class by
settling towards the rear early before
building momentum before the home
turn. Huangshan responded well to
Bowman’s urgings and got on top close
to home in the colours of loyal stable
supporter Mr Lai.
Irish Optimism
5yo G Approve - Miznapp by
Pennekamp
This son of Approve was another
imported galloper to score this week
when winning at Doomben over 1612m
from the Gold Coast stable.
Michael McNab was on board and he
showed his talent by settling back in
the pack early before bringing Irish
Optimism with a sustained challenge
in the straight to hit the front close to
home for a solid victory.
Charge
3yo C Zoustar - Queen Of The Falls by
General Nediym
This son of Zoustar had shown plenty
of ability in his previous starts and
gained a well deserved maiden victory
at Warwick Farm on Wednesday over
1100m.
Kicking off the new season in style
Charge, with James McDonald in the
saddle, controlled the race throughout.
They bounced straight to the front when the stalls opened and Charge was never headed as he let
down nicely when challenged in the straight for a cosy success. Stablemate Altair was a promising
second and is also a son of former stable star and now Champion First Season Sire, Zoustar
Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Trackside Photography,
Ross Stevenson and Darryl Sherer for our weekly photos.
Follow Suit 5yo G Show A Heart - Royal Green by Bachelor Duke This former NZ galloper has certainly paid his way since joining the stable and he has developed a real affinity with the 2200m trip at Warwick Farm scoring his third success at that track and trip on Wednesday. Hugh Bowman took the mount and he rode a patient race on the gelded son of Show A Heart as he settled him around midfield early before coming with a perfectly timed run in the straight to score in impressive fashion. Sweet Scandal 4yo M Sepoy - Bacchanal Woman by Encosta De Lago This daughter of Sepoy has been in great form this preparation and she made it three wins from four starts this time in when winning at Warwick Farm on Wednesday over 1200m. Visiting NZ apprentice Sam Weatherley has been in fine form and he again showed why he is great value for his 2kg claim. He always had the daughter of Sepoy in a prominent position just off the leader. She travelled nicely before letting down well in the straight to score in the colours of Laurel Oak/ Grant Bloodstock and a large group who enjoyed a great day with Impasse also being in their ownership. Impasse 4yo G Sepoy - Amelia’s Dream by Redoute’s Choice Impasse made it successive city wins when scoring at Warwick Farm on Wednesday over 1400m under Hugh Bowman. Bowman had the gelded son of Sepoy in the perfect position throughout, sitting just behind the speed where he traveled beautifully before coming with his challenge in the straight. Impasse quickened away inside the final furlong for a comfortable success.
Nightbreaker
4yo G Savabeel - Miss Caruso by
Pins
This NZ bred son of Savabeel was
rewarded for some consistent efforts
when winning his maiden at Gosford
on Saturday over 1900m on Saturday
with fellow Kiwi Rory Hutchings in
the saddle.
Hutchings settled in mid division early
on before coming with a sustained
run in the straight and Nightbreaker
relished the step up in trip to stay on
strongly and record a gutsy success which he can hopefully build on for great stable supporters The
Hermitage.
Recently Named Horses
Name Breeding
Chookster Brazen Beau - Medici Madonna colt
Originaire I Am Invincible - Balady filly
Cambridge mare joins Waller stable
Capable Cambridge mare
Ivy’s Court is a new addition
to the stable of champion
Sydney trainer Chris Waller.
The Choisir four-year-old
left the care of Cambridge
trainer John Bell last
Monday with a record of
two wins and four placings
from 10 starts, with her
latest win being over 1600
metres at Pukekohe two
months ago.
“She has gone over there
to try and get some black
type,” Bell said. “It’s a good
opportunity for her.”
Ivy’s Court will continue to
be raced by her owner-breeders, Ann and Darryl Courtney-O’Connor, who have continued to breed
from her dam, the three-race winner Courtney.
Courtney is a half-sister to Gin Dartre, who won five races and earned black type when winning the
Listed 2009 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). - NZ Racing News
Waller the wizard strengthens his grip on
Sydney with eighth crown
The numbers are staggering — an eighth successive Sydney trainers’ premiership with an all-time
record 189 city wins, nearly 340 race wins nationwide, 13 Group 1 successes and stable earnings of
more than $34 million.
This has been some 12 months for Chris Waller who capped his record-breaking 2017-18 season
with four winners including Mister Sea Wolf in the Listed $150,000 Winter Challenge (1500m) at
Rosehill Gardens.
The Hall of Fame trainer has been the most powerful force in Sydney and Australian racing for most
of this decade — and he seems to getting even more dominant.
Waller said the competitive nature of Sydney racing ensured he could not rest on his laurels.
“You need to perform 52 weeks a year, that’s Sydney racing for you,’’ Waller said.
“I think that is what makes Sydney racing so good. There are harsh critics and good judges out there
and they expect you to be at a high level, week in, week out.
“I respect that and it does create good trainers, great jockeys, and good punters who like betting on
our races. I’m proud to be a trainer here.’’
Waller’s 189 Sydney wins broke the record of 169 wins he set three years ago while the 13 Group 1
winners he trained ensured he claimed the national Group 1 premiership for an unprecedented sixth
consecutive season.
“I would not have thought training 180-odd winners in Sydney was possible 10 years ago,’’ he
admitted.
“But I’m always thinking about (improving) things and I feel opening up a Gold Coast stable has had a
big impact on our season.
“Some might think it would detract from our
Mister Sea Wolf.
Sydney stable but I think it has helped us get
more horses into the stable fit and well.
“To have the stables in Sydney, Melbourne
and Gold Coast working so well has been a big
bonus.’’
The final Sydney meeting of the 2017-18
season turned into a celebration for the
Waller stable with Mister Sea Wolf’s Winter
Challenge win complementing the earlier
successes of stablemates Huangshan, Raqeeq
and Paret.
English import Mister Sea Wolf ($9.50) scored
his first Australian win when aided by a
brilliant Jason Collett ride, wearing down Flow
($9) to win narrowly with the ever-consistent
Special Missile ($8) more than two lengths
away third.
“It was actually pretty easy in the end,’’ Collett
said.
“We had the barrier (four) today and at the
600m I had plenty under me. I just had to be
patient.’’
Waller said Mister Sea Wolf would be entered
for the Epsom Handicap but believes the
gelding’s best chance of being competitive at Group 1 level could be interstate.
“I would say Mister Sea Wolf is a Group 3 horse but if we get his confidence up he might be a Perth
carnival horse over summer,’’ he said.
“His first run in Australia was very good and I genuinely thought he was a lightweight Doncaster
horse but he was disappointing that day.
“I though today was the right time to try the blinkers and it was a very good ride by Jason (Collett).’’
Waller indicated Mister Sea Wolf is likely to race next in the Premiers’ Cup (1900m) later next
month.
Invinzabeel, a stablemate of the winner, was sent out $3.70 favourite but after appearing to have
every chance, laboured into fifth placing, more than three lengths behind the winner. – Ray Thomas,
The Daily Telegraph
Source of champion Winx along with
15 other Group 1 winners.
Subscribe to the Mulcaster Mail.
mulcasterbloodstock.com | g.mulcaster@hotmail.com | Guy: 027 290 7344 | Bevan: 027 463 1748
Waller starts his charge towards nine Champion trainer Chris Waller wasted no time taking control of the 2018/19 Sydney trainers premiership with four winners at the opening meeting of the season at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. NO REST FOR THE WICKED Chris Waller couldn’t even let one of his rival trainers lead the premiership for 35 minutes, taking out the first Sydney contest of the season before adding another three wins by the end of the card. Waller has won the past eight Sydney trainers’ premierships and such is his dominance that corporate bookies don’t even bother offering a market on the premiership outcome any more. The aptly-named Charge was Waller’s first winner of 2018/19 before Follow Suit, Sweet Scandal and Impasse made it a quartet of wins for the day. The four-time premiership winning rider Hugh Bowman and dual Sydney’s champion jockey James McDonald shared the riding honours for the day while the new star of the riding ranks, apprentice Sam Weatherley was the only claimer to ride a winner. WHAT’S HIS CEILING? CHRIS WALLER DOESN’T KNOW Talented three-year-olds are starting to return ahead of the spring and Chris Waller produced one of his many that fit into the category – Charge which won the Book Spring Now 3YO C&G Maiden Handicap (1100m). A son of Zoustar, Waller said “maturity had done Charge the world of good” which ended his juvenile season a two-time placegetter from four starts. “We purposely brought him back a bit early to try and give him a bit of confidence,” Waller said. “You’ve seen it over the past couple of weeks with the likes of Paret and Kaonic. “I think the sky’s the limit for a horse like this. I won’t say how far he’ll get because I certainly don’t know. “I’ll be aiming high.” Charge ($2.80 fav) defeated his stablemate Altair ($4) by 3-1/4 lengths with a half-length back to Watching ($7.50) in third. PROGRESSIVE MARE WINS AGAIN Chris Waller never doubted Sweet Scandal had her share of ability and another impressive performance made it three wins on end in the ATC Hong Kong Tour F&M Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m). The half-sister to Sir Bacchus, which Waller describes as a “decent Group II horse if he’d been 100 percent (sound) throughout her career”. “She’s a mare we looked after early and she’s showing she’s got a bit of class,” Waller said. “She just keeps improving. “There’s still upside with her, she’s not the furnished product yet so I can’t see why she won’t keep progressing. “A fair bit of fun to be had with her I’d say. Onwards and upwards for a horse with a bright future.” Sweet Scandal ($4.20 fav) defeated Royal Fashion ($51) by 2-1/4 lengths with a head back to the unlucky Lady I Am ($6) in third. - Racenet.com.au
How good was it?! The 2017-18 season
There’s little that can be written that hasn’t already been said in regards to the stable’s meteoric
rise to the top since Chris moved his operation to Sydney in 2000 and over the past season we have
seen more records tumble and honours bestowed including Chris being inducted into both the New
Zealand and Australian Racing Halls of Fame.
Quick to deflect many of the accolades onto the team around him, one thing is for sure - we are all
proud and privileged to learn from and be led by not only a history making horseman, but an astute
businessman and fierce advocate for his staff, horses and owners.
Over the next few weeks we will be checking in with some of the team to get their highlights from
last season as well giving us a heads up on some of the horses they’re looking forward to following
this season.
Highlight? It’s hard to go
past Winx winning her
third Cox Plate but for me
personally, Comin’ Through
finally winning a Group
One was just awesome!
One to follow? Charge.
Johanne Taylor, Flemington
Stable Foreperson.
Highlight? I would have to say that having Another Dollar (pictured) as an unraced
horse and going through to achieve what she did made us all very proud.
Obviously we had bigger wins with
horses that have higher profiles but
I think the fact that she was with
us from the beginning of her career
meant she was pretty special to the
whole Queensland team.
We hope she can go on and win a
Group One.
Paul Shailer, Gold Coast Stable
Foreperson.
Highlight? Winx’s third Cox Plate was the obvious highlight.
Horse to follow? Voila.
Andrew Clarken, Warwick Farm Foreperson.
Highlight? Other than Winx I think the rise
and rise of Youngstar was equal to, if not
better, than that of Egg Tart the season before.
Horse to follow? Youngstar is my horse to
follow as well as D’argento while I’m picking
the stable’s next Oaks filly to be Brazilica.
Bruno Briffa, self-titled Executive Transport
Operator.
Highlight? Being trackside when we got three Group One wins
was a great day last season - not only because of the relief
of Winx getting the job done again but the mighty Barman
breaking his Australian Group One at nine-years-young!
Horse to follow? I’m going to give everybody the chance to back
this season’s Golden Slipper winner - she’s an unnamed filly by
Zoustar out of the speedy mare Woppit. She looks to have a lot
of natural speed, perfect for the six-furlongs around Rosehill!
Chris Harwood, Rosehill-based track-work rider.
Highlight? It’s got to be being a part of Winx’s history
making third Cox Plate, but I also got a massive buzz
out of the Barman winning the Sydney Cup.
One to follow? I could pick out 10 horses to follow
as I think all going to plan we’ll have a massive Spring
and Autumn with our babies I’ve seen/ridden so far. I
like the Hinchinbrook - Kaaptive Empress (he’s very
much like his brothers). Another that comes to mind
is the Zoustar - Laughing and the Exceed and Excel - A
Bright Idea who’s very much in the Performer mold.
Ben Cadden, Rosehill-based track-work rider.
Waller to donate prize money to charity
Chris Waller will donate his guaranteed prize money from the staying race at Randwick to drought
relief and will also support gynaecological cancer research fundraising on the day.
The trainer has all but one of the runners in Saturday's 2400m-race named in memory of Cindy
Sullivan.
"I am fortunate enough to have a number of runners in and as part of the day (jockey) Hugh Bowman
and I will donate a lunch in conjunction with Michael Sullivan which will be auctioned off to support
this fantastic cause," Waller said in a statement.
"In addition to this I will also donate my trainer's prizemoney earnings from this race to the NSW
Drought Relief Fund."
The Waller-trained Raqeeq is the $2.50 favourite to win the $53,375 first prize. – AAPChris Waller Racing connections prominent
at ATC Owners Awards
The popular Australian Turf Club Owners Recognition Awards were presented on Saturday morning
before the action kicked off at Rosehill with plenty of Chris Waller Racing connections honoured.
Joint winners of the High Strike Rate Owners at Australian Turf Club Courses in 2017/18 went to Mr
Francis Cook and Mrs Christine Cook and Mr Ray Aurisch and Mrs Helen Aurisch while among her
many other accolades this season, Winx added the Biggest Margin at an ATC Meeting to her honour
roll courtesy of her seven length win in the Chipping Norton.
Star Thoroughbreds’ honest performer Cellarman was recognised with the Most Wins at ATC Metro
Courses award while Vaucluse Bay was recognised as having had the most starts at ATC tracks with a
total of 16.Paret panache points to so much more,
says upbeat Chris Waller
Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller came up with
a novel description of Paret after the gelding’s win at
Rosehill Gardens.
“Paret is a second-tier good horse,’’ Waller said.
“Each carnival we see one go through the grades and I’m
hoping it is Paret this spring.
“He could get to the Epsom Handicap, we will see how he
goes.’’
Paret ($3.90 favourite) was brilliantly ridden by Hugh
Bowman, coming from well back in the field with a
ground-saving run near the rails before he forced his way
through a narrow gap to win by a widening one-and-a-
quarter lengths from stablemate Snitzel Day ($9) with
Groundbreak ($6) running on well for third.
Waller said Paret has always shown ability on the training
track but the decision to geld him could be the makings of
him as a racehorse.
“He wasn’t an aggressive colt, wasn’t unruly, it wasn’t
anything noticeable but clearly he is better as a gelding,’’
Waller said.
“With respect to the opposition, he is probably a better horse racing in moderate grade. Some horses
don’t get beyond this grade but Paret should, he certainly has the ability.’’
Waller is hoping Paret is his 2018 version of Boban, a racehorse loaded with talent who found his
best form after being gelded.
Boban raced his way through the grades during the 2013 spring carnival culminating with his dual
Group 1 successes in the Epsom Handicap and Emirates Stakes.
Waller said he was buoyed by Paret’s first-up run when third to Star Of Monsoon two weeks ago.
“Jay Ford rode Paret very well in that race and said he has come back a better horse and will win a
Group race,’’ Waller said.
“Hugh is our stable jockey so it was good to get his opinion of Paret today. It was a great ride, patient
ride by Hugh and that was a big key to his win.
“I’ve purposely got a few of them like Paret up a bit earlier to help build their confidence and
hopefully win a race or two.
“I can back off Paret a little, he doesn’t have to race again for another four weeks.’’
What impressed Waller and Bowman most was Paret’s willingness to take the gap between runners
half-way down the straight before sprinting clear for an easy win.
“Paret wanted to be there,’’ Waller said. “Colts will have a bit of a look at it but geldings normally go
straight through the gap.’’ – The Daily TelegraphWaller to be open
with plans for staying contest
Premier trainer Chris Waller is in the enviable position of having all but one runner in the
2400-metre Cindy Sullivan Memorial at Randwick on Saturday, but he will make sure punters, and
the stable’s only opponent Red Alto, know his plans.
“We will wait until the Racing NSW speed maps come out and if there is anything different in our
plans to the maps, we will let stewards know on Friday,” Waller said. “It is a great service to have
those speed maps and gives us a point to work from.
“It is unusual, so we want to make sure everyone is clear on our thinking.
“I have had all three in a race before but this is different because of the numbers and we want
punters to have confidence in what we are going to do and we want to let them know in advance.
“It might give our opposition an advantage, but I think we need to be clear with what is going to
happen, for the good of racing.”
The Waller stable originally had 11 acceptors, but two have already been scratched. The stayers
have been working through their preparation to get to 2400m.
“If the race was stronger we would have waited a week with a few of these but it fits their
preparation and the prizemoney is so good for first, second and third, so we need to give them their
chances,” he said. “It is a race we wanted to support and if we didn’t have these runners it probably
would not be there next year.”
Last week’s winner Raqeeq is one that goes into the race looking to strengthen his position in the
benchmark to compete in races such as the Newcastle Cup in the next couple of months.
“He needs to get his benchmark [of 78] up to run in better races,” Waller said. “Ideally he would wait
another week but this is a good opportunity for him to get another win, which would help him later
on.
“He is a nice horse on his way up but we need to get him to a position where he gets in the right races
and he is in form.
“When you look at our runners, Sayed is the benchmark as topweight but he would probably need
some give in the ground.
“The others have been working
through the grades and it is a
good opportunity for them to be
tested over this trip.”
Waller said Follow Suit, which
has been given a two-kilogram
penalty after making it back-
to-back wins at Warwick Farm
on Wednesday, would probably
back up.
“He looks to have come through
the run pretty well and I would
like to see him run,” Waller said.-
Chris Roots, Sydney Morning
Herald Sayed.Chris Waller predicting big things
for new foreigners
New additions to Australian racing will kick off their spring campaigns at Randwick on Saturday and
trainer Chris Waller has high hopes for all four believing at least one of the quartet could find himself
in a Melbourne Cup qualifier later this year.
That horse is former UK galloper Brimham Rocks which resumes from a spell in the Tony Crawford
50th Benchmark 91 Handicap (1600m).
Brimham Rocks arrived in Australia late last year and placed in two runs of his first Australian
campaign in Melbourne during the autumn.
The Northern Hemisphere-bred five-year-old son of Fastnet Rock has been readied for his return
with two trials, the latest an encouraging fourth in a 1030m trial at Rosehill.
“He’s a stayer to follow deep into the spring,” Waller said. “He’s shown us enough at the trials to
indicate he can run a cheeky race fresh.
“He’s the type of horse I’d expect to get through to the Lexus (Stakes).”
Brimham Rocks is a $10 chance on Saturday and will be ridden by Tye Angland.
Waller will also kick off the four-year-old season of The Lord Mayor, as well as six-year-old geldings
Eagle Bay and Makdanife in the Half Yearly Membership Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m).
All three are former New Zealand-based gallopers, both Eagle Bay and The Lord Mayor arrived in
Australia earlier this year, running in two races each during the autumn while Makdanife is on debut
for the team.
Waller nominated The Lord Mayor as the pick of the trio for Saturday, indicating the son of Rock
‘n’ Pop had done exceptionally well during his spell since finishing down the track in the Australian
Derby.
In-form apprentice Sam Weatherley rides The Lord Mayor.
“I think he’s come back very well,” Waller said. “He’s a horse that’s thickened up like you wouldn’t
believe.
“I think he’s in for a good prep. It’s a great time of the year to kick him off and I’m expecting him to run
well on Saturday after some good trials.
“He’s a horse I’m looking forward to seeing during the spring.
The Lord Mayor is at $13 in early markets, ahead of Eagle Bay at $15.
“Eagle Bay is a horse to follow,” Waller said. “I think he’ll need 1800m to show his best in Australia.
“He’s a horse that will probably have the flashing light on Saturday but he might just be giving them
to much of a start.”
Eagle Bay will be ridden on Saturday by returning jockey Tommy Berry while Kerrin McEvoy takes
the reins aboard Makdanife, a $26 chance
“Had he been first-up over the mile in midweek grade I’d have been quite confident but realistically
from the draw he might find this a bit tough,” Waller said of Makdanife.
“He’s certainly a horse to look out for going forward.” - Racenet.com.auWho Shot Thebarman –
‘This is Your Life’, part 1
He’s one of Australasia’s most popular horses and this spring Racenet has been given unprecedented
access to Who Shot Thebarman – ‘This is Your Life’.
Who Shot Thebarman officially turned 10 on Wednesday, although his birthdate is actually
November 2.
During his 2018 spring campaign we’ll follow the horse while he races in Sydney and Melbourne, we’ll
also bring you stories never previously told about Who Shot Thebarman, while keeping you up-to-
date on how he’s tracking towards some of Australia’s biggest staying races.
Foaled in 2008, Who Shot Thebarman was bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton at White Robe
Lodge, a thoroughbred nursery at Mosgiel in Otago.
“It’s down the bottom of the South Island, most Australians wouldn’t cope with the weather down
there,” Who Shot Thebarman’s trainer Chris Waller told me during the autumn.
“They breed their horses tough and the product stays tough.”
Who Shot Thebarman lives up to his upbringing, a 10-year-old veteran of 51 starts, earning
$4,543,946.
He’s won 11 times, six times at Stakes level including the Group I Sydney Cup this year, 2014 Group
I Auckland Cup, 2017 Group II Moonee Valley Cup, 2015 Group II Zipping Classic, 2014 Group II
Avondale Cup and the Group III Bart Cummings in 2014.
How did Who Shot Thebarman get his name?
“Our Aunty Julie would just yell out, ‘hey you kids, who shot the barman?’ That was her call for one of
us kids to grab her glass and go and fill it up with gin,” part-owner Dan O’Leary said.“Whoever was close would always know ... little kid three fingers, big kid two fingers. As we got to be bigger kids it was two fingers of gin and not much water.” Now to meet the team behind Who Shot Thebarman. Owners: Dan, Michael, Humphrey and Shaun O’Leary and their wives share in the ownership. They are dairy farmers out of the Whangaehu Valley in southern Wanganui on the North Island of New Zealand. “The whole family have milked cows in the Wanganui Valley for just over 100 years ... and all four brothers have still got cows,” Dan said. “Dairy farming is in our blood as the O’Leary clan in Ireland were all farmers and that’s what they emigrated to New Zealand to continue. “I think O’Leary in Irish means something like keeper of calves, so it was always pretty certain that’s what we would do.” The O’Leary’s love of racing comes from their late father Humphrey senior. “Our father raced horses for 50 years and the boys have carried on that love of the thoroughbred,” Dan said. “Dad was involved in racing and breeding, so it was natural we would have our own ponies (growing up) and we would race them against each other at every opportunity.” Trainer: Chris Waller, what can be said about Australia’s best trainer that hasn’t been said? Waller grew up in New Zealand’s North Island about an hour or so north of Wellington in Foxton, a small horseracing town of about 3000 people. He hit Sydney in 2000 with two maxed-out credit cards, no cash, his childhood sweetheart Stephanie and a few empty boxes at Rosehill. "It shows you can do it; it doesn't matter what your bank balance is, where you've come from. or what your experience is, anybody can do anything in life," Waller said. Waller brought 'Party Belle' to Sydney the same year and won a maiden at Wyong. He returned with her a year later to win three in town. “Like anything, you are only as good as the staff you build up around you,” he said. Triple Honour was his first Group I winner in 2008 - taking out the Doncaster Mile and from that point the business has expanded from a humble base at Rosehill to now having stables in all major racing cities along Australia’s eastern seaboard. Now the Waller stable is the most feared in the country, he’s been inducted into the Australia and New Zealand racing Halls of Fame and he’s the trainer of one of the greatest ever to grace the Australian turf, Winx, as well as Who Shot Thebarman of course. “I attribute our success to date to the infrastructure put in place leading up to these last couple of years.” He said.
Waller has now won eight consecutive Sydney training premierships and trained more than 80 Group I winners. Strapper: Bhojraj Singh is a 29-year-old, married with a five-year-old child that moved to Australia in September 2017 when he started working for Chris Waller Racing. From India, Bhojraj had worked in the UK gaining invaluable experience “working under various trainers, learning a lot”. “I came to Australia on a working holiday visa but because of Chris’s friendly and caring nature with his staff, his supporting superior staff (Annie, Garry and Glenn) and his simplicity, I was attracted to extend my visa,” Bhojraj said. Bhojraj didn’t know much about Who Shot Thebarman when he first arrived at Chris Waller Racing, but assigned as the horse’s strapper in the autumn the pair went on a ride that has left Bhojraj with lifelong memories, and a first Group I win in the Sydney Cup. “Some horses touch our heart and Barman is one of them,” he said. “He is such a nice horse, he is now a 10-year-old but sometimes he still behaves like a kid. He’s got so much character. “Whenever he goes to the races he gets exited, joyful and fresh. “He’s genuine, energetic and a loyal horse. "When he ran in the Sydney Cup, in the parade ring he was so strong and unstoppable and that gave me the confidence he could definitely win. The victory was reflective in his attitude. “Words cannot express what the horse means to me.” In next week’s edition of Who Shot Thebarman – 'This is Your Life’ we look at what he’s been up to since winning the 2018 Sydney Cup and the build up to what’s ahead for the spring, so be sure to tune in next Tuesday. - Racenet.com.au
Winx and Candice. Who Shot Thebarman and Stuart. Annie and Press Statement’s little brother.
Huangshan celebrations. Raqeeq celebrations.
Irish Optimism celebrations.
Gold Coast stable representative Paul
Shailer and stable jockey Michael McNab.Follow Suit celebrations. Impasse celebrations.
Sweet Scandal celebrations.
Nightbreaker and Tracy. Two Brazen Beau babies -
Marsalis and Accession.The Flemington team giving some of the babies jump-out practice this morning. From left to right - the Pierro x Gallica (Katherine), Fighting Sun x Vivid Girl (Troy) and the Brazen Beau x Medici Madonna (Anita).
Charlotte and Brimham Rocks. The Avenger.
Overstep and Palmateer.
Amovatio and Sayed.
Dan and Zousain.
Amata Sorella all soaped up.
Ben and The Autumn Sun.You can also read
