Chris Waller speaks to the media ahead of the Cox Plate at Flemington Racecourse on October 26, 2017 in Flemington, Australia. (Alice Laidlaw/Racing Photos)
Chris Waller has become the first Australian trainer to break the $50 million prizemoney barrier in a season and fittingly, he has achieved the feat with a filly owned by long-time clients the Ingham family.
Waller started the day needing just over $210,000 to reach the mark and got off to a good start when he produced the quinella in the Stayer’s Cup (2400m) at Rosehill, along with the fourth and seventh placegetters.
Cigar Flick’s victory in the opening race at Eagle Farm less than 10 minutes later sealed the deal.
The milestone caps another remarkable season for the champion horseman, who is on target for a 14th successive Sydney trainers’ premiership.
His nous was evident in the Stayer’s Cup victory by Speycaster, whose form had tapered off since posting back-to-back wins at Canterbury and Newcastle in May.
Following his unplaced finish in the Winter Cup last start, it was thought he might have had enough but Waller decided to change up his routine rather than tip him out.
“His last two runs have been a bit disappointing since his impressive win at Newcastle,” Waller’s stable representative Damien Fitton said.
“They’ve scored him around the arena a bit and livened him up and it was a good win.
“We do it with a lot of the horses to break things up, we probably take ten out of a morning.”
Speycaster ($21) was allowed to find his feet early and produced a strong finish under Rory Hutchings to beat barn mate Kureder ($5.50) by 1-3/4 lengths with Funambulist ($13) third.
Fitton was unsure of plans for the winner but said he wouldn’t be out of place if he was stepped up to Listed grade.
“He has been up a while, so we’ll leave it to Chris, but he’s got the ability,” Fitton said.
Father’s Day was sent out a $3.20 betting site favourite for the Stayer’s Cup but after being unable to find the front, he was a spent force a long way from home.
Apprentice Bailey Wheeler began to ease him down before the home turn and the horse was subsequently found to be lame in the off-hind leg.