Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller didn’t have to wait long to get the winner he needed to bring up his “double century” for the season when the promising Via Napoli scored impressively in the Anzac Day meeting opener at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Via Napoli’s success gave Waller his 200th winner on all racetracks this season — the fourth consecutive year he has passed that milestone.
Waller then had further reason to celebrate as his stable ended the day with a treble after the wins of Rodrico and Lady Le Fay.
Via Napoli is a superbly bred filly raced by leading owner-breeder John Camilleri and responded when challenged by Mon Bel Ami to score a strong win in the Anzac Day Handicap (1400m).
“She is still learning what it is all about but it was good to see her knuckle down like that,’’ Waller said.
Lady Le Fay edged out stablemate Weary in a thrilling finish to the tommy Hill Memorial Handicap (2000m).
This win took Waller’s tally of Sydney wins to 125 and with three months of the season remaining he is a realistic chance of challenging the all-time record of 167.5 city wins he established in 2012-13. – Ray Thomas, The Daily Telegraph
