Chris Waller has flagged the Cox Plate as a potential target for Lindermann, who he believes can develop into a weight-for-age warhorse for the stable.
The son of Lonhro was one of the stars of Tuesday’s Canterbury barrier trial session, cruising up alongside classy stablemate Princess Grace to win his 902-metre heat and all but confirm plans to kick-start his campaign in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 19.
Speaking on the Chris Waller Racing twitter platform, the champion trainer said he was looking to Lindermann to step up and add some depth to the stable’s weight-for-age ranks.
“I think he’s a perfect weight-for-age horse, which we probably struggled with last year,” Waller said.
“We were just a bit weak in our weight-for-age ranks.
“He’s a big, strong boy and he’d barely started racing this time last year.
“He makes his own luck up on the pace, which is good for our horses. He’s set for a big prep.”
Lindermann announced himself in the autumn when he graduated from benchmark racing to finish runner-up to Communist in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), then went one better in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Waller will keep Lindermann’s spring options open, but they could include the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7, or the new $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick a week later.
The Cox Plate (2040m) is at Moonee Valley on October 28, while the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 4 isn’t off the table.
“We will look at the Winx first-up and then you’ve got the King Charles, which is a bit different in terms of where we’d normally go in terms of timing,” Waller said.
“Then you’ve got your Turnbulls, maybe even a Cox Plate.
“I’d say the Golden Eagle is probably a bit short for him, 1500. But it’s on his home track and if something went wrong through the prep you’ve always got it to fall back on.”
Lindermann is at $26 in early Cox Plate odds with bookmaker betr which are headed by Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior ($4).
