Waller production line to be flat out
CHAMPION trainer Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable manager Paul Shailer says the lead-up to tomorrow’s Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben will be like a drivethrough at McDonald’s as he and staff race the clock to saddle up seven runners.
The Waller stable had six runners in the same race 12 months ago, where Le Juge emerged triumphant, but on that occasion the boss was in town to help with the saddling duties.
With COVID-19 restrictions now in place, the number of people Shailer can call on to help isn’t the same as usual.
The eight acceptors shrunk by one with The Lord Mayor not running, but Shailer expects the other seven to line up in the 16horse field after they arrived on the Gold Coast yesterday.
“It’s a bit of a logistical nightmare and took me a bit to organise (how it will work tomorrow), but we’ve had similar numbers in the past,” he said.
“I used to stress about but it’s all good now.”
With only a short period of time to saddle all seven runners, the process works like a it, production line.
“You could describe it as organised chaos. Everyone knows their job,” Shailer said.
“We have a gear list of what all the horses wear, all the strappers have the horses lined up with bridles on, blinkers, tongue tie attached to the bit and as they walk out of the tie-up stalls we tick off the gear list.
“Before we bring the saddles down we have an order worked out as to which saddle goes on which horse first, they come into the allocated stall and then it’s like a drivethrough at McDonald’s.”
As to whether the stable will win the race, Shailer will leave that to the punters to decide.
“It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had big numbers and not come away with the chocolates,” he said.
While most of the runners only arrived from Sydney yesterday, Shailer is more familiar with Le Juge, who has been a long time flagbearer of the Gold Coast arm of the stable, and feels the old boy is in good shape as he returns to defend his title tomorrow.
“Coming back from 2400m suits and he gets a nice weight drop,” he said.
WE HAVE AN ORDER WORKED OUT AS TO WHICH SADDLE GOES ON WHICH HORSE FIRST, THEY COME INTO THE ALLOCATED STALL AND THEN IT’S LIKE A DRIVE-THROUGH AT McDONALD’S PAUL SHAILER (ABOVE)