09.12.2008, CRUNCH TIME FOR WALLER’S BELLAGIO WYNN

 

The Christmas Cup at Rosehill will be a pivotal point in Bellagio Wynn’s career with trainer Chris Waller using the 2400-metre race to determine whether his future lies as a stayer.

Bellagio Wynn was successful over 2100 metres in July 2007 and his last win was over 2000 metres in June this year on a heavy track at Randwick.

Waller planned Bellagio Wynn’s early spring campaign around trying to get him into the Epsom Handicap (1600m).

That failed to materialise and in his past three starts he has run second over 1600 metres, third over 2000 metres before finishing unplaced in the Canberra Cup (2000m).

“We are trying to do something different because he has been short of his best this campaign,” Waller said.

“We were looking at the Epsom but then we backed off and freshened him up again.

“I’m not sure whether he is a bit more dour now or a bit older and wiser so we will try him over the 2400 and see if he can stay.

“If not we will back off and start again.

“We know he has plenty of ability.”

Bellagio Wynn was one of 21 entries for Saturday’s Listed feature which was one of the casualties of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak.

There were 13 youngsters nominated for the two-year-old race on the program including the Waller-trained Stryker, a $600,000 yearling owned by the Ingham family.

Waller is not sure if the colt will run or be saved until the week later.

If he does start he will be the first of the horses Waller trains for Bob Ingham’s new operation to race in the famous all cerise colours.

A $600,000 Easter yearling, Stryker is by Group One-winning sprinter Fastnet Rock out of Woodman mare Laetitia who won three races from 1600 metres to 1900 metres.

Stryker has had two eye-catching barrier trials for a win and a close second.

Waller has also taken over the training of expensive colt El Cairo from Newcastle’s Paul Perry.

A $2 million Easter purchase in 2007, El Cairo has one victory from six starts and has been entered for the 1200m Rating 75 Handicap.

25.09.2008, WALLER HAS HIGH HOPES FOR TRIPLE HONOUR

Trainer Chris Waller believes Triple Honour is peaking for Saturday’s Group One George Main Stakes.

Trainer Chris Waller is relishing the opportunity to see stable star Triple Honour in action on a good track in Saturday’s Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick.

The four-year-old has worked strongly this week and Waller is expecting a vastly-improved performance from Triple Honour after his last-start second to Gallant Tess in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes over Saturday’s distance of 1600 metres.

The four-year-old has worked strongly this week and Waller is expecting a vastly-improved performance from Triple Honour after his last-start second to Gallant Tess in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes over Saturday’s distance of 1600 metres.

"He’s done particularly well in his build-up and comes into this race a lot fitter than he was last time out,” Waller said.

"I’m really looking forward to running him on a good track, he has won on a heavy but the good track will ensure that he runs a very strong mile.

"It was probably a bridge too far for him last start, second-up over a mile on heavy going, and he was probably a bit soft for it.”

Waller experimented with removing blinkers from Triple Honour on the advice of jockey Glen Boss for the Chelmsford but they will be back on for the George Main.

Triple Honour has a tendency to hang in during his races and Waller said the gear change was worth a go.

"I certainly don’t regret that we took them off, we needed to try something but now they are back on and I’m expecting them to sharpen him right up,” Waller said.

Triple Honour has won six of his 11 starts including the Group One Doncaster Handicap (1600m) and was only beaten a nose in the Randwick Guineas by Weekend Hussler.

Boss has battled influenza all week and was stood down after riding Hill Stakes winner Fiumicino at Rosehill on Saturday, but bounced back by riding The Astronomer to victory at Canterbury and can’t wait to reunite with Triple Honour.

The three-time Melbourne Cup winning rider, who rode Triple Honour in his Doncaster Handicap triumph, said his mount was the horse to beat on Saturday.

"If he turns up on the day he wins, and he’ll turn up,” Boss said.

"I’d forgive that last run, he was beaten but he was far from disgraced.

"He’s back to a track he loves and he’s racing at weight-for-age, he ticks all the boxes.”

"He’s back to a track he loves and he’s racing at weight-for-age, he ticks all the boxes.”

Triple Honour is currently the second favourite for Saturday week’s Epsom Handicap (1600m) but Waller said his performance on Saturday would determine his path.

"The Epsom remains a possibility but the George Main fits in better if we decide on a run in the Cox Plate, we’ll see what he does on the weekend first,;” Waller said.

The Group One Cox Plate (2040m) is at Moonee Valley on October 25.