With a combined age of 36 years, Chris Waller’s five runners in the Eagle Farm Cup won’t fall short on experience.
The quintet will gang tackle the Group Two Doomben feature when they line up against two rivals from outside stables.
Foreteller, Craig Newitt – Photo by Sharon Chapman
One of those, New Zealander Werther, was a late entry for the race and is regarded as the biggest stumbling block to Waller’s chances of victory.
Runner-up in the South Australian Derby, Werther shares favouritism with Waller’s Foreteller at $4.20.
In Brisbane for the Queensland Derby, the three-year-old’s star is still on the rise while at eight, Foreteller’s career has probably peaked.
It’s a theory that Waller heard last spring and he says Foreteller proved the naysayers wrong then and would again.
“He showed them six months ago when he was good enough to win an Underwood,” Waller said.
“He did run sixth in the Doomben Cup last start in a style of race didn’t really suit him.”
Waller regards Foreteller and last year’s winner Moriarty as the leading chances for his stable.
Moriarty has contested the same lead-up races as 12 months ago and turned in similar performances, convincing Waller he is on track to defend his title.
“Moriarty is rock-hard fit and he’s a great chance,” he said.
“I can’t split him and Foreteller.”
