Chris Waller has achieved almost everything there is in Sydney racing but training a winner for another Group One trainer is something new.
New Zealand Hall Of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson, who was domiciled in Sydney for 20 years before moving back home, sent Our Malambo to Waller hoping for Australian success.
The filly hit pay dirt at her first Australian start on Saturday with victory in the 1200m-Benchmark 77 with leading New Zealand apprentice Sam Weatherley aboard.
“It’s like winning a Melbourne Cup, training a winner for Graeme Rogerson,” Waller said.
“When I first came here he was very good to me.
“But it is about prize money. Outside of carnivals in New Zealand it is nowhere near what it is here and this filly is an example.
“Money talks all languages.
“He (Rogerson) said ‘you do the paying and I’ll do the receiving’. He backs himself and she looks like a filly who can go on to better things.”
To demonstrate the money imbalance, Our Malambo’s total from four wins and seven minor placings at home was $71,452 with her first prize on Saturday bolstering that by $53,375.
Our Malambo ($18) came from the middle of the pack to beat Oria ($5) by a long head with the Waller-trained Bella Success ($4.60 fav) another short neck third.
Weatherley is in Australia on a three-month stint with the Waller stable and has impressed the trainer with his professionalism.
“His father Darren used to ride for me in New Zealand,” Waller said.
“Sam works very hard and he’s got a huge respect for racing.”
Despite riding in Australia for the past few weeks, Weatherley maintains an 18-win lead in the NZ apprentices’ premiership over Jasmine Fawcett.
