Chris Waller-trained Group One winners Albert The Fat and Danleigh could be joined by new stablemate Tougher Than Ever in Saturday’s Expressway Stakes.
Last season’s champion two-year-old in New Zealand where he raced at Warhorse in the care of Jason Bridgman, Tougher Than Ever pleased his new trainer with his third in a barrier trial a couple of weeks ago.
Albert The Fat winning the Emirates Stakes (Group 1) at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
As is the case with many New Zealand horses, he had to undergo a name change to avoid confusion with an Australian horse of the same name.
The Australian War Horse, a maiden galloper who has been placed twice in three starts, is one of his new stablemates.
“Albert The Fat and Danleigh will run in the Expressway and I’ll nominate Tougher Than Ever then look at the field,” Waller said.
“Otherwise we will wait until the following week.”
Albert The Fat, the winner of the 2011 Emirates Stakes, hasn’t raced since his fourth behind Atlantic Jewel in last year’s All-Aged Stakes and has had three trials leading into his return.
Danleigh has trialled twice, the latest behind More Joyous on Friday, and Waller believes he can be effective in the Group Two weight-for-age Expressway at Warwick Farm, the race that kick starts Sydney’s autumn carnival.
Waller would like to see a wet track for Danleigh but not to the extent of Saturday’s heavy 10 at Rosehill.
“He needs it dead or slow but not heavy,” he said.
“The race is a good stepping stone for him going forward.”
Danleigh has five wins and two seconds from eight starts on slow tracks but his heavy record is one second in the 2009 Stradbroke Handicap from six attempts on heavy.
Tougher Than Ever won the Group One Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old and was a close third in the 2000 Guineas won last November by Sacred Falls who has also crossed the Tasman to join the Waller stable.
After an autumn campaign in Sydney, Tougher Than Ever is slated for another transfer, this time to Singapore where his owner Tang Weng Fei lives.
The plan is for the colt to join Mark Walker’s stable to be prepared for the Singapore Triple Crown series.
