Champion trainer Chris Waller will be hoping Christmas comes a day later as he lines up a strong team in Sunday’s Group 3 Summer Cup at Randwick.
With three runners nominated, Chris Waller looks to possess a stranglehold over Sunday’s Group 3 Summer Cup at Randwick.
After going back-to-back with I’m Imposing in 2013-14 and then winning again with Montauk in 2017, Waller is expected to saddle up a strong trio in pursuit of his fourth Summer Cup.
ATC Cup winner Polly Grey spearheads the Waller brigade, joined by last start Doomben winner So You Win and eight-year-old stalwart Order Again; who will be having his first start beyond 1700m since claiming the 2017 Grand Prix Stakes over 2200m.
Another trainer with multiple chances in the 2000m feature is Bjorn Baker, nominating six-year-olds Fun Fact and Parry Sound.
Previous winning trainers, Mark Newnham (2020), John Sargent (2019), and Matthew Smith (2018) are all hoping for a repeat in fortune, nominating Skymax, Pecuinary Interest and Attorney respectively.
Hitting the line strongly for third in the Group 2 Villiers (1600m), sole Godolphin runner Criaderas could have his first crack out past the mile and might be joined by the horse he edged out in the placings; the Joseph Pride-trained Stockman.
Another intriguing nomination is the Annabel Neasham-trained Lightning Jack. The five-year-old kiwi showed a great turn of foot when scoring over the Randwick mile on his Australian Debut.
Challengers from the southern stables include the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bonvicini and the Mitchell Freedman-trained Ho Ho Khan; who could be lining up in his second Australian start since making the move from Hong Kong.
A comprehensive stable of Waller runners also permeates the 1600m BM 88. The leading trainer holds five of the current 11 nominations – Criminal Code, So Wicked, Solar Apex, Wairere Falls, and Wheelhouse.
Canberra trainer Mathew Dale has nominated two runners: New King and last start Flemington winner Five Kingdom.
Having only attracted 13 and 11 nominations respectively and with rain forecast from Wednesday onwards, nominations for the two races have been extended to Tuesday, 11am.
The Randwick track condition is currently rated a Good 4, with the rail out six metres the course entire.
