Chris Waller’s first two-year-old winner of the season invariably proves to be a handy horse, and he expects that to ring true for Snitzel colt Fireball.
The youngster made a dashing debut to take out Saturday’s Schweppes Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill, following in the footsteps of former stablemates Brazen Beau and Omei Sword, who Waller recalls being responsible for putting him on the scoreboard during their respective juvenile seasons.
“If they do, it’s normally a pretty good one. They get there on their own without doing much work,” Waller said.
“He’s a lovely colt. (Syndicator) James Harron and his team buy nice horses so that’s the first box ticked. It makes my job easier.
“All of my staff have said he’s a very professional horse. We haven’t asked him to do anything at home, and they keep saying, ‘he will go the next step’.
“It’s always a good sign when they come out and do it pretty raw and not pushed. He’s had two soft trials, and he’s done a great job today.”
Fireball fetched $460,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is likely to be spelled with a view to a Golden Slipper campaign in the autumn.
Renowned for his patient approach, Waller has limited two-year-old runners pre-Christmas and those who do perform early generally make an impact in the autumn.
Global Quest (2019) and Shaquero (2020) both won Breeders’ Plates in the spring, the former going on to place behind subsequent Golden Slipper winner Farnan in the Silver Slipper, while Shaquero returned to win the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
Fireball ($8) scored by a length over Tigroni ($11), who was outstanding in defeat after travelling wide throughout, with Euripedes ($8) another half-length away third.
Winning jockey Tommy Berry had partnered Fireball in his second trial and said his only concern pre-race was the short journey, which the horse was able to overcome.
“He’s going to be lovely when he gets to 14(00 metres), maybe even a mile, so they’ve got options,” Berry said.
Fireball is a $34 chance in early Golden Slipper markets.
