Waller beaten but still hungry for Cup glory
TRAINER Chris Waller remains determined to chase a Melbourne Cup victory after race favourite Finche finished in seventh place yesterday, leaving its jockey lamenting a slow pace.
The British raider — ridden by last year’s Melbourne Cupwinning jockey Kerrin McEvoy — “had every chance” according to the Kiwi trainer, who is now forced to wait at least another year for another crack at the famous race.
Waller has four Cox Plates thanks to champion mare Winx — who won that race every year from 2015 to 2018 — but is yet to taste victory in Victoria’s two other key Cups.
Finche had started the race as favourite at $8 but was left in seventh place in the frenzied finish.
Despite yesterday’s disappointment, Waller remains hopeful of what the future could hold.
“It was a great international race, and an Australian horse won it, but we’ll win one one year,” Waller said.
“He loomed up, had every chance. All the jockeys are saying it was a slowly run race, but hey, it didn’t stop the winner. And full credit to the winner.”
Waller said the victory of Vow And Declare was a fillip for the Australian racing industry, that he said showed “we bloody have” got what it takes to win the country’s greatest race.
McEvoy said he was left wanting in what was considered by most jockeys to be a slowly run race.
The winning time was eight seconds slower than the track record, at 3:24.76.
“The pace wasn’t that strong and I would have liked them to go a little bit quicker,” McEvoy said.
“But he presented at the top of the lane and I thought he was a real chance there at the 300, but he just levelled out the last little bit.
“It was a great run.”