All guns blazing for Waller and Shellscrape

IRON colt Shellscrape capped a stellar day for Rosehill trainer Chris Waller when claiming yesterday’s San Domenico Stakes at Randwick.

Shellscrape had had nine races as a two-year-old, winning three, two of them in Queensland, but that heavy schedule was of no concern to Waller.

’’A tough horse, a very tough horse,’’ said the Kiwi horseman, who opened the day by winning consecutive races with Voice Coach and Altered Boy.

Like those two runners, Shellscrape completed a hat-trick when fending off the Queensland pair of Sniplaz and Kiss Me Katy.

’’A smart horse who has done a great job, having had so many runs as a two-year-old,’’ Waller said.

’’He looked as good at his last run as he did at his first as a two-year-old, so we decided to spell him up in Queensland and set him for this race.’’

Waller applauded Shellscrape’s owner-breeder Geoff Grimish for allowing him to carry out the plan. The colt will now contest the Up And Coming Stakes in a fortnight.

Shellscrape’s performance was not lost on premier Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman.

’’It was a dominant win,’’ Bowman said. ‘’He was a bit closer in the run than I expected but it was of no concern. I always thought he was going to give a good kick, he did and he was strong on the line.’’

Waller is eyeing The Metropolitan with the imported stayer Voice Coach, which cruised away from rivals as an odds-on favourite.

’’I was a bit more rash, he is developing into a Caulfield Cup-type horse,’’ winning jockey Corey Brown said.

Waller bought the stayer in England, where he has been going in search of cheap stayers for three years. ‘’It is too dear to buy them out of New Zealand,’’ he said.

To date, his group has purchased 15 horses there, the latest batch of seven including Voice Coach.

’’Eight of the first nine horses we bought all won races,’’ Waller said. ‘’I reckon we’re pushing 20-odd winners with them.’’

Brown said the turnaround in Voice Coach was down to Waller’s astuteness.

’’Four starts ago I would have put a pen through him,’’ Brown said. ‘’He wasn’t attacking the line but soon as the blinkers went on, he is a totally different horse.’’

Waller and Brown combined to win the second race with another form galloper in Altered Boy.

For the third time in succession Altered Boy charged up along the fence to win, this time nailing the favourite Bejewelled.

’’Confidence is a wonderful thing, not just in sportsmen, trainers, their staff, but horses as well,’’ Waller said.

Brown took over from the suspended Josh Parr, who had been on Altered Boy at its past two wins.

’’I rang Josh on the way to the races and asked how we should ride him,’’ Waller said. ‘’He said ‘ride him back like we have been’.’’

Waller isn’t aiming high with Altered Boy, knowing better-class horses are gearing up for the assaults on the spring riches.

’’He is coming to the end of his preparation but he does have a fitness edge on the better ones,’’ Waller said. ‘’When he is not winning prizemoney, we will turn him out.’’

Article by – www.brisbanetimes.com.au

Shellscrape gives Waller and winning treble

STAKES-WINNING two-year-old Shellscrape has carried his form into his three-year-old season yesterday to cap a big day for trainer Chris Waller at Randwick with victory in the San Domenico Stakes.

The group 3 sprint over 1000 metres was the first black-type feature for the Sydney spring and Shellscrape ($7.50) carried topweight of 56 kilograms courtesy of his win in the Australia Post Stakes during the Brisbane winter carnival.

After that listed win on June 20, Shellscrape had a short break in the warmer climate with yesterday’s race in mind.

His win was the third of the day for Waller after Voice Coach and Altered Boy.

’’We picked this race out and set him for it and we are very proud to win it,’’ Waller said.

’’He did a great job as a two-year-old and he looked so good after he won in Brisbane that we just gave him a short break up there.’’

After Hugh Bowman tucked him in behind the leaders, Shellscrape burst through the pack in the straight to hold off Queenslander Sniplaz ($26) by a length. Another Queenslander, Kiss Me Katy, the $4.40 favourite, ran third another 2½ lengths away.

Waller said Shellscrape would contest the Up And Coming Stakes (1200 metres) in two weeks with the group 1 Golden Rose (1400 metres) a week later an option.

Waller’s other wins came courtesy of Corey Brown rides.

Article By – www.theage.com.au

CWR RUNNERS – SATURDAY 8 AUGUST