Chris Waller will saddle up more than a quarter of the Sydney Cup field, and his assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, says their squad has one thing in common.
“With all of our runners in this, there isn’t much of a query over the distance,” Duckworth said.
While seven of the 15 Sydney Cup contenders are untested at 3200m, each of Waller’s have experience over or around the journey.
River Of Stars finished fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m), Valiant King has contested Australia’s most famous race twice, Soul Of Spain scored a 3319m win in Ireland, while Hutchence is a winner of his only two-mile start overseas.
River Of Stars ($7.50) is considered the stable’s leading chance, although she faces a weighty ask with 56.5kg.
Only five mares have been successful since 1989, including Makybe Diva, who scored with 55.5kg in 2004 – taking it out in between the first and second of her three Melbourne Cup triumphs.
While acknowledging the task River Of Stars faces, Duckworth is adamant she has the quality and stamina to feature.
“She’s the class horse in the race, which is why she’s got top weight,” he said.
“She’s got a lovely draw (barrier six) to try to offset that weight, and two miles isn’t an issue with her, she is a proper staying mare.”
Valiant King was third in the Caulfield Cup, and while he hasn’t placed in three runs this campaign, connections are excited to see him line-up on Saturday after missing the race 12 months ago.
“He was awesome in the spring,” Duckworth said.
“He’s yet to hit that height this prep, but we’re hoping Saturday will be when he does.
“He was scratched from the race last year, so we’ve got some unfinished business with him.”
Day two of The Championships will be another momentous afternoon for the Waller team with 14 runners across four Group 1 races, headlined by outstanding mares Autumn Glow and Aeliana in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
While the former has garnered most of the pre-race attention as she bids to extend her unbeaten sequence to 12, Duckworth says Aeliana is a star in her own right, having captured the Ranvet Stakes and Tancred Stakes at her past two starts.
“She has been faultless,” he said.
“She’s such a terrific horse, and she stays very well.”
While Aeliana is proven up to 2400m, much has been made of the decision to stretch Autumn Glow to a middle-distance for the first time at Randwick.
Waller and jockey James McDonald have this week reiterated their stance that Autumn Glow will have no issue with the trip, but they’re prepared for the distance query to inspire bold tactics from rivals hoping to unearth an as-yet unexposed weakness.
“The query is how quick they do end up going in this 2000 metre race,” Duckworth said.
“Everyone in the race will, I imagine, want to make it a stamina test as that’s likely to be the only chink in the favourite’s armour.”
The Waller-trained Lindermann looks the natural leader, although William Haggas pair Dubai Honour and Caviar Heights, along with Sir Delius, all have the versatility to press forward.
