Chris Waller’s finest hour
THE glamour girl of Australian racing has galloped her way into equine immortality with her third Cox Plate win, equalling the feat of Kingston Town.
After her world-class performance, her trainer, ex-pat Kiwi Chris Waller, will make all of the senior racing executives around the world wait a little longer before any hard and fast overseas plans are made.
An emotional Waller choked back the tears as he described his happiness at clinching this rarely seen feat with a galloper who has now stretched her winning sequence to 22 races.
Waller and his wife Stephanie struggled to contain their joy when Winx raced her way into racing history in front of 33,000 adoring supporters.
But Chris Waller’s wonder mare was forced to dig deep and almost to the bottom of her reserves to fight off the gallant run of Humidor, who came closer than any other horse in Winx’s three triumphs to defeating her.
Humidor, a former Kiwi runner who ran second behind Willie Cazals in the 2016 Livamol Classic when trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, looked a serious threat in the final 100 metres but the champion mare lifted and won by half a length in front of a sold-out crowd at Moonee Valley.
Godolphin challenger Folkswood fared best of the rest and finished third ahead of the three-year-old Royal Symphony in the famous A$3 million weightfor-age event.
‘‘Of course, it’s such a relief,’’ Waller said. ‘‘But now I want to get her home and get her right and then look at overseas. I’m really being honest in saying that there’ll be no call on her until perhaps early next year.
‘‘I’m digesting one of the greatest moments of my life, but I’m aware representatives from so many countries, understandably, would love to have her racing on their patch.
‘‘But I can’t say enough. She’s got to be spot on and right in herself before we go anywhere. She’s the property of the public now. They love her and I’ll never do anything wrong by her in making plans she can’t fulfil.’’
Victorian racegoers will have GETTY IMAGES to wait another fortnight before the champion mare races at Flemington, but that engagement, according to Waller, is only now a 40 per cent chance of becoming a reality.
‘‘Again, I want to get her home and get her settled and then have a good long look at her,’’ he said.
Waller has ruled out a trip to Japan for the $8 million Japan Cup, again wanting time to look at everything that is available for her.
Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai and clubs throughout Europe will now be bending over backwards to bring Australia’s world-class mare to their shores.
Jockey Hugh Bowman was overjoyed. ‘‘I am lost for words,’’ he said.
Bowman was caught wide in the early stages before easing Winx to settle fifth.
Winx began to improve her position from the 900m.
‘‘She has gone down, she will go down as one of the greatest to grace the Australian turf,’’ Bowman said. HIFLYER who was all the rage with punters starting in the red in Saturday’s Group III Thompson Handicap and fully justified the faith with a determined win.
On a picture perfect Trentham afternoon with racing held on an ideal Dead4 track, the Peter Locktrained Te Aroha visitor took the length of the long Trentham straight to gather in pacemaker Amarula.
A clever ride by Amarula’s jockey Shaun McKay gave the favourite’s supporters a few moments of concern.
‘‘It’s such a relief to get a blacktype win,’’ Lock said. ’’I’ve always known it was just around the corner.’’
Johnathan Parkes aboard the winner, knew what a big heart his pint-sized mount possessed and called on all the horse’s reserves of energy to get him home by a neck over Amarula with a big gap to the rest headed by third-placed Ringo.
The win was Hiflyer’s seventh from 17 starts and took his prizemoney earnings to around $190,000.
Lock has long held a big opinion if the Tavistock gelding and will further test his talent with a possible trip across the Tasman.
He’s toying with the idea of taking Hiflyer to Melbourne for the weight-for-age A$2 million Emirates (2000m) on Novmeber 11 at Flemington where he may clash with fellow Kiwi Gingernuts.
Gingernuts from the Te Akau team is under consideration for the race after his recent second in the Livamol Classic.
Lock will consider option over the next few days before confirming his plans.
Opie Bosson got his Trentham day off to a flying start with wins in the first two races on the day’s card.
He won on Platinum Valos for trainer Lisa Latta but it was his next one on Ferrando that left a lingering impression.
Platinum Volos has now had five starts for two wins for owners Lincoln Farms Bloodstock and Nevile McAlister.
‘‘I’ll probably set him for something like the Levin Classic and just take him through the grades,’’ Latta said.
The time for the opening event of the programme, run over 1200 metres, was 1:09.71 on a Dead4.
Ferrando ran his 1200m in a sizzling 1:08.36 with Bosson barely moving on the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained speedster.
‘ I’m digesting one of the greatest moments of my life, but I’m aware representatives from so many countries, understandably, would love to have her racing on their patch.’ CHRIS WALLER