23.12.2008, EL CAIRO AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR WALLER

Amanda Hawke
Monday, 22 December 2008

Chris Waller will test the waters with recent stable entrant El Cairo at Rosehill on Saturday in a Rating 81 Handicap over 1500m after the $2 million horse caught the eye with a cracking first-up run.

The half-brother to 2002 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Desert Eagle – who was acquired for a tidy sum of $2 million – made his race return under Waller’s tutelage on December 13, flashing home for fourth behind Margham and Barabucci over 1200m.

“He’s a nice horse, a really lovely type,” Waller said.

“The thing with him is to try not to put too much pressure on him. He’s still learning and maturing, and fortunately the owners understand the horse.

“We’ve also got a lot to learn about him but 1500m is the next logical step, his first-up run at Rosehill would indicate that.”

El Cairo is nominated to line up against stablemate Vintedge, who was a close second to smart filly Angel’s Breath at Randwick on Saturday. Newly-gelded Coniston Bluebird also appears in nominations after displaying staying promise at Warwick Farm on November 26.

Mentoring a stable apprentice isn’t unfamiliar territory for Waller, who will be taking Mitchell Beadman under his wing when the 19-year-old returns from a Hong Kong visit to his family.

“I’ve had an apprentice in the past, Melissa Crocker, she doesn’t ride anymore and I’m actually pleased for it because she’s working behind the scenes and doing a great job,” the trainer said.

“I’ve always been in a fortunate position where I’ve had the pick of plenty of apprentices at my disposal, but the stable’s expanding and I feel I owe it to the industry to give back.

“He’ll be like the horses in my stable, Mitchell will be doing a lot of hard work but at the same time I’m not going to break his heart.”

22.12.2008, BEADMAN TO REST BEFORE RETURN

TROUBLED apprentice Mitchell Beadman has taken an extended break from racing. The son of champion jockey Darren Beadman has joined his father and mother Kim in Hong Kong for a holiday away from the seven-day-a-week grind.

Beadman, who started his apprenticeship under John Hawkes in 2005, joined the Randwick stable of John O’Shea several months ago but the trainer and apprentice recently parted company, prompting the youngster to head overseas.

Trainer Chris Waller was in Hong Kong for the recent international meeting and after chatting to Darren and Kim Beadman has decided to give Mitchell a home at Rosehill.

“I said to Darren and Kim [that] if he is looking for somewhere to go it would be an honour to help out,” Waller said yesterday. “He has a lot of ability and probably been a victim of Darren’s shadow. Darren has been so good for so long. He [Darren] is the ultimate professional and, in my opinion, Mitchell is still making his own person, own soul.”

After a stellar start to his riding career Mitchell hit a few hurdles. In recent times he has struggled to gain rides, with attitude a concern among those entrusted with engaging riders.

“He has been in all the best places with Hawkes and O’Shea,” Waller said. “No doubting he has had every opportunity and now that he has a bit of age, had a bit of time, he is having a good break. I think he’ll come back and be really successful, finish his apprenticeship off on a positive note.”

Waller has not put any pressure on Beadman to return immediately, preferring to let the teenager join the stable when his mind is clear and body refreshed.

“There is no doubting the fact there is only one way to succeed and Mitch knows it, through watching his father, better than anyone,” Waller said. “Everything has got to be 100 per cent, he has to be a workaholic and he’ll make it, he realises that. He is a young boy who certainly hasn’t got into any serious trouble. If he applies himself like Darren he’ll be right.”

Waller’s stable has gradually expanded in recent years. Earlier this year the “Chicken King” Bob Ingham engaged Waller to be the family’s trainer. Other owners included retail giant Gerry Harvey.

“We’re fortunate our owners are very supportive,” Waller said. “Pretty much what decisions we make they go along with but we certainly wouldn’t lose a horse owner over a jockey.”

It will be the first time Waller has taken on an apprentice but with the stable sitting third on the Sydney trainers’ premiership behind powerhouses Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden, the trainer felt the time was right.

“I’ve preferred to stay away from apprentices,” Waller said. “It is easy sitting back picking and choosing your riders.”

While Waller utilises the best available jockeys when it comes to metropolitan rides, the trainer is mindful of looking after those putting in at trackwork.

“Mitch will have to earn respect,” he said. “We’ve still got jockeys like Jeff Penza and Nathan Cumberland, both do a lot of work for me and both have to get rides at the provincials. Mitch has to fit in there as well. I’ve got to keep the boys happy.”

With the expansion of the stable Waller is keen to put something back in. “I’ve got to think of racing as, well, giving people an opportunity,” he said. “I’ve certainly been given every opportunity. With a big team I should be responsible for educating young people and that’s why I probably decided to do it, everybody needs an opportunity. If Mitch is a workaholic he’ll make it.”