Chris Waller has declared rising star Arcadia Queen ready to take on the world’s best sprinters and assume the Everest throne.
The leading Sydney trainer paraded two of his three runners, Arcadia Queen ($5) and Yes Yes Yes ($8.50), at Rosehill on Wednesday after they had their final hit-outs ahead of Saturday’s $14 million Everest at Randwick.
Content with how Acadia Queen (three), Yes Yes Yes (nine) and Nature Strip (12) fared at the barrier draw, Waller was talking up the trio’s chances.
He reserved special praise for Arcadia Queen, who runs for owner Bob Peters and slot holder the Star Group.
The four-year-old mare is fresh from a five-week lay-off since winning the Theo Marks.
“She’s very sharp,” Waller said.
“She’s got the chance to be running for over $20 million in two races.
“We’re confident she can take that next step and not just run well in The Everest but then go through to a Golden Eagle.”
Arcadia Queen is a relative newcomer to Waller’s powerhouse stable with Peters transferring her from Grant and Alana Williams after she lit up the Perth racing scene last year.
With James McDonald booked to ride, Waller said Arcadia Queen’s inside gate would allow the dual Group One-winner to quickly find her groove.
“She, I guess, is a little bit vulnerable at 1200 metres but she’ll certainly be very strong at the end of the race,” he said.
“Barrier three should allow her to find a nice comfort zone (and) be in a midfield position.”
Waller was keen to remind rivals of Arcadia Queen’s sprinting credentials, although it has not been lost on punters as she shortened to split favourite Santa Ana Lane ($4.60) and Pierata ($5.50) in the market.
“She’s won a Group (One) race over 1800 metres but that doesn’t mean she’s a 1800-metre horse – she’s simply that good,” he said.
“She’s done an amazing job in Western Australia. She’s shown Sydney that she can also win here.
“She’s got a lot of upside.”
But Yes Yes Yes might have her covered for upside, with Waller excited at the prospect of the three-year-old colt’s earning potential should he win.
“It’s regarded as the race to win in terms of a stallion-making race,” Waller said of The Everest.
“The Golden Slipper has been it up until now. Automatically a colt’s worth 30 or 40 million (dollars) minimum (as a Slipper winner), if he’s got good breeding $50 million.
“If a three-year-old colt can beat the best sprinters in the land, it must put his value up above that.”
Like a parent asked to name his favourite child, Waller would not proclaim a preferred winner among his talented trio.
He even went as far to say he would not be sour if his personal slot holder Yes Yes Yes was trumped by one of his other runners.
“Very politically correct,” he said.
