Chris Waller has three of his brightest stars nominated for Saturday’s $300,000 Expressway Stakes at Randwick, but it is unlikely that they will all clash.
Joliestar, Angel Capital and Lady Shenandoah were among 10 entries for the 1200-metre Group 2, which is a stepping stone to Group 1 targets second up, and Waller is still weighing up who to run.
“We have got three ace cards for the Expressway, including Angel Capital and Joliestar, so I don’t want to run all three,” Waller said.
“I want to try to hold one back. I don’t know which one, possibly Lady Shenandoah.
“She could run in the mares’ race, the Triscay (Stakes), or run the following week in the Millie Fox.”
Waller is likely to three runners in the Expressway Stakes, however, with Coolmore Classic-bound four-year-old Lazzura to launch her campaign.
“She’s had a couple of Group One placings and hasn’t had a lot of luck with a couple of them. She jarred up a bit in Melbourne with the firm tracks in the spring,” Waller said.
Lazzura and Lady Shenandoah, who are among 13 entries for the $250,000 Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m), were on show at Randwick last Saturday, taking part in exhibition gallops over 1000m.
Autumn Glow, Aeliana, Lindermann and Trinity College took part in similar workouts, which Waller said would be beneficial for their preparations.
“The day out, the hot weather, the trip home, they’ve been away from the freed bin for six hours. It’s all part of tightening them up,” Waller said.
“It just saves the hard workouts and it saves getting behind. It’s easier to be well ahead. You just can’t play catch up with horses, so being well prepared and exhibitions gallops show everything has gone to plan and there have been no setbacks.
“If I don’t give them an exhibition gallop, it’s either a rushed prep or I just didn’t have time to do it how I wanted to do it.
“It gives them a chance to have a bit of a sweat, break the skin. Then next week they’ll come back and they’ll be picture perfect.”
Autumn Glow, Aeliana, Lindermann and Trinity College were among nine entries for Waller in the $300,000 Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), which could also feature Antino, Ceolwulf and Stefi Magnetica.
