Several of Chris Waller’s biggest names are key players in Tuesday’s star-studded trial set at Rosehill, but the champion trainer said racing fans should not expect an any early-campaign statement from any of his team.
Fangirl, Via Sistina, Riff Rocket, Joliestar and Zougotcha are among those who will be given an easy time of things at their first public appearances of the preparation.
“They’ve had good breaks, everything trialling Tuesday is the same – they’re still a month away from racing – so respect that,” Waller said from Rosehill on Saturday.
“Don’t expect them to come out and win their trials, because they’re 28 days off race fitness, but I couldn’t be happier with all of them.”
Ranvet Stakes winner and Cox Plate fancy Via Sistina will trial over 1000 metres, alongside stablemate and one-time Melbourne Cup favourite Francesco Guardi, in the opening trial.
Dual Derby winner Riff Rocket and Thousand Guineas heroine Joliestar are among the Waller stable members in the following trial, over 900m.
The second 900m hit-out, which is trial number three, contains multiple Group 1-winning mares Fangirl, Zougotcha and Atishu.
They are names prominent in betting on a swag of Spring features, including the first Group 1 of the season – the $1 million Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 24 – and while Waller will have strong representation in that 1400m race, not all of Tuesday’s runners to head that way.
“We’ll just get them through the trial (but) I don’t want them all running in the Winx Stakes,” Waller said.
“They’ll be ready to go on Winx Stakes Day but they won’t all run together.
“I would run multiple horses together, but not at that level, there’s some very good horses (around).”
Fangirl heads betting on the Winx Stakes, while she is second favourite for the $5m King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on October 19.
Via Sistina is favourite for the Turnbull Stakes and The Might And Power, both 2000m Group 1s in Melbourne in October, and is joint second favourite for the $5m Cox Plate (2040m) on October 26.
