Sydney’s unpredictable weather continues to keep everybody guessing, but for the bulk of Chris Waller’s stars, it is full steam ahead for the first Group 1 meeting of the carnival.
The Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) will be among two Group 1 races on Saturday’s program, and with seven of the nine starters, Waller looks to have a stranglehold on the race.
While it isn’t one of the autumn ‘majors’, Waller views the mile feature as an important stepping stone, evidenced by the fact his most recent winners include Via Sistina, the race’s namesake Verry Elleegant, and Winx.
This year his squad is headed by short-priced favourite Autumn Glow, along with Australian Derby winner Aeliana, warhorse Lindermann and several stayers who are resuming.
“It’s a fork in the road. Some stick around the 1500-metre and mile path, some will go up in distance, and some might go to easier races,” Waller said.
“Those previous winners, their class told. Verry Elleegant was a little bit different to the other two because she was more dominant over further, but she had the class to win over a mile.
“Autumn Glow fits those three horses.”
Waller could also feature heavily in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) with unbeaten colt Fireball and debutant Central Europe.
The latter is on the fifth line of Golden Slipper markets at $18 courtesy of some eye-catching barrier trial performances and while his sire, Frankel, is better known for producing middle-distance types and stayers, Waller does have a precedent in Hungry Heart.
He trained the daughter of Frankel to win the Sweet Embrace Stakes on the corresponding program in 2020, and she went on to finish fifth in that year’s Golden Slipper.
“We have respected Frankel since then, and he was a very good horse himself, a fast horse,” Waller said.
“So I’m not totally surprised.
“This horse hasn’t been pushed yet. He has got there himself. He is having his first start in a Group race so it’s straight to the NRL first time. They have to be very good, and he is. It’s just whether he’s ready for it.”
Central Europe has drawn barrier seven while Fireball has an awkward gate in 12, but with the bigger picture in mind, Waller says the Inglis Millennium winner will take his place.
“We’re keen to go three weeks into the Slipper,” he said.
“We just need to get the first half right and make sure he is finishing off so we’re not scratching our head going into the Slipper. That will have some bearing on how we ride him Saturday.”
The Randwick track was a soft 7 on Friday morning with the rain expected to clear later in the day.
