Waller targets the Toowoomba Cup
CHAMPION trainer Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable is likely to have a four-pronged attack on the $150,000 Toowoomba Cup on Saturday.
It will be the second year Waller will take horses to Toowoomba after Another Dollar launched her winter campaign with a win there 12 months ago.
Another Dollar went on to run three stakes placings including a close second to stablemate Youngstar in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben in May.
Waller’s Gold Coast manager Paul Shailer said the stable would have The Lord Mayor, Vaucluse Bay, Xebec, and Follow Suit in the Toowoomba Cup (2000m).
“They are the right types of horses for the Cup. The Lord Mayor has run in Group 1 races and was very good when fourth at his first Queensland start last time,” Shailer said.
“Xebec was good first-up and then had no luck last time and is out to the right distance. Vaucluse Bay and Follow Suit are both recent winners.
“It looks the perfect race to launch their winter carnivals.”
Waller has made an art form of winning staying races in Brisbane.
He has won 32 races in the metropolitan area this season and about 70 per cent of them have been in staying races.
The stable has also entered Cellarman and Sexy Eyes in the day’s other feature, the Listed Weetwood Handicap (1200m).
There were 30 entries taken yesterday for the Weetwood and 25 for the Cup with both races having a field limit of 14.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, who also has a stable on the Gold Coast, is looking at the Cup too and has four nominations – Singing, Hallelujah Boy, High Opinion and Karavali.
“At this stage we will definitely have Singing in the race but might have a few more,” Lees’ Gold Coast representative Mel Eggleston said.