Chris Waller stepped in to enhance Godolphin’s outstanding record in the Golden Rose earlier this spring and he will be out to reinstate their influence in this Saturday’s $400,000 Sandown Guineas at Caulfield.
The Sheikh Mohammed-owned Burma Star is one of Waller’s two runners in the 1600-metre Group 2.
The champion trainer will also saddle Written Tycoon colt Pictor, who races under the Yulong colours.
The Sandown Guineas is a race that Waller has won just once, with Pressday in 2010, which came during a period that Sheikh Mohammed dominated the Sandown Guineas through the likes of Caymans, Kidnapped, Tatra, Paximadia and Morton’s Fork.
But it’s been nine years since the most recent of Godolphin’s wins and Waller is hoping they prove a formidable combination.
“His record is better than mine, so it’s good to link up with him,” Waller said with a laugh.
“I remember we won one once many years ago with a horse called Pressday, but that team’s going great and it’s good to be part of it.”
Waller became the first trainer to win a Group 1 with a horse previously trained by James Cummings when he produced Beiwacht to win the Golden Rose in September.
Burma Star came to Waller from Cummings in winter a maiden and after a second placing at his first start for the stable won an 1100m Warwick Farm maiden on August 20.
The Exceed And Excel colt finished second in a benchmark 72 at Rosehill on October 1 before a maiden Stakes success in the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, a performance that sealed his Guineas start.
Waller said Burma Star possesses attributes that will ensure he gets the best out of himself in his toughest test to date.
“He’s come through that well, he’s a really neat horse with a great action and is very professional,” Waller said.
“He just goes to sleep in his races and likewise trackwork, so he looks after himself and turns up on raceday.”
Burma Star was ridden to victory by Joao Moreira at Flemington but will have the services of Ben Melham in the Sandown Guineas with the pair to jump from barrier three.
Melham’s wife Jamie will have the ride aboard Pictor (barrier nine), who also comes through the Springtime Stakes and finished 1-1/4 behind his stablemate.
