Velrosso, the horse who secured trainer Chris Waller a place in Sydney racing history, will kick-start a campaign aimed at autumn carnival success on Saturday.
A debut victory from Velrosso at Rosehill last June brought up Waller’s 100th Sydney metropolitan winner for the season.
It put him among an elite group of trainers with Tommy Smith, Brian Mayfield-Smith, Gai Waterhouse and John Hawkes the only others to have achieved the feat.
Injury forced Velrosso to miss the spring but Waller is looking forward to having him back in Saturday’s MC Conners Racing Handicap (1100m) against the likes of Aeronautical, Detours, Aerobatics and Didntcostalot.
“He’s struck a tough race to kick off in but he does go well,” Waller said.
“I’d be surprised if he does win that race but you’ve got to start somewhere and it’s getting time now where it’s getting a bit late.
“Once he’s cherry ripe he’ll be good enough to win some good races.”
Waller had Velrosso entered for a race at Canterbury last Saturday but decided to wait another week.
“He had a very minor infection in his system, out of 10 it was just a two,” Waller said.
“We chose to give him the extra week to be 100 per cent.
“He’s 100 per cent now, but he is still learning his craft.”
Velrosso is one of eight Waller-trained runners entered for the Warwick Farm program along with in-form stayer Permit, who will shoot for his third straight win in the Vinery Stud Handicap (2200m).
Waller needs to see Permit win again on Saturday to convince him he’s on target for a tilt at a race like the Sydney Cup this autumn.
“He hasn’t convinced me yet,” Waller said.
“If he wins on Saturday then he has put three good runs together and two with big weights.
“He would also have done it on a good track at Rosehill last start and probably on a slow track on Saturday.
“If he could win again then he’s heading in the right direction for a good race.”
Permit was the pre-post favourite for the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm last Thursday but Waller opted to scratch him on race morning to save him for Saturday’s event so he wouldn’t be racing out of his grade.
Permit is the $2.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet for Saturday with his rivals to include stablemates Tropicana Girl ($8) and Telesmon ($41).
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