Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller completed an unprecedented Sydney Saturday Group 1 clean sweep when Fireball defeated stablemate Campione D’Italia in the $1 million Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
This was the eighth successive (and final) Saturday of Group 1 racing in Sydney for the autumn carnival and Waller has trained at least one Group 1 every week.
It’s a sustained level of excellence never before achieved by anyone in Australian racing history and Waller was understandably a little emotional when informed by Racing And Sports of his extraordinary record.
“These are the results our team works hard for all year,” Waller said.
“We have had some tremendous results this autumn carnival and I can’t thank my team enough.
“To be able to win at least one Group 1 race each Saturday for eight weeks of the carnival makes me very proud.”
Waller has dominated Group 1 racing in Sydney this autumn winning 11 majors. His extraordinary sequence of big race success included:
February 28 – Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes: Autumn Glow
March 7- Group 1 Canterbury Stakes: Joliestar
March 14 – Group 1 Coolmore Classic: Lazzura
March 21 – Group 1 George Ryder Stakes: Autumn Glow, Group 1 Ranvet Stakes: Aeliana, Group 1 Rosehill Guineas: Autumn Roy
March 28 – Group 1 Tancred Stakes: Aeliana
April 4 – Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes: Joliestar, Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes: Campione D’Italia
April 11 – Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks: Ohope Win
April 18 – Group 1 Champagne Stakes: Fireball
Waller also had some near misses with Group 1 second placings in the Randwick Guineas (Autumn Boy), Doncaster Mile (Autumn Boy, stablemate Militarize third), Sydney Cup (Soul Of Spain), Queen of the Turf Stakes (Lady Shenandoah) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Lindermann, stablemate Autumn Glow third).
Stable jockey James McDonald had ridden each of Waller’s first 10 Group 1 winners for the autumn but he was on favourite Campione D’Italia in the Champagne Stakes and just missed extending his big-race winning momentum.
Fireball ($6.50), ridden by Tim Clark, held off Campione D’Italia ($2.15 favourite) to win by a half neck with Diameter ($26) a long head away third.
Clark rode his 27th career Group 1 winner on Fireball – but his first for Waller.
“He got a great run today.,” Clark said. “I was thinking before the race, I don’t want to get there too soon, but just how the race unfolded, I had to present him when I did.
“The challenge came early enough that he had the opportunity to fight back and that he did. He’s obviously so tough and he’s been running in all the big races. I’m thrilled to get a good result for Chris and James Harron and all of his connections.”
Fireball, the 28th individual Group 1 winner sired by super stallion Snitzel, was purchased by Harron for $460,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year.
With his Champagne Stakes win, Fireball would be worth upwards of $20 million as a commercial stallion prospect.
Waller said Fireball has coped well with an extended preparation and deserved his Group 1 win.
“Full credit to the horse because he’s been able to deal with it,” Waller said.
“You wouldn’t know he’s deep into a ‘prep’, each run has had so much merit and not a lot of luck, so he deserved that today.
“He’s got there by telling us that he’s coping well with his racing. Distance-wise, I’ve never really been too concerned.
“I thought in the Golden Slipper, he was beaten at the 300m, but he was still strong through the line, then last start at 1400m, he didn’t have much luck. But today he was great.”
Campione D’Italia was brave in defeat. He had won the ATC Sires Produce Stakes two weeks ago and is also a very valuable Group 1-winning son of Snitzel.
“A fantastic result as both colts are by Snitzel, he’s an amazing stallion,” Waller said.
“Campione D’Italia’s a young ‘lad’, he’s still learning his trade and he’ll be much better next season.”
McDonald felt if Campione D’Italia had more luck in running he would have won the Champagne Stakes.”He is an outstanding colt but is still a work in progress,” McDonald said.
“He has come a long way to win the Sires which was tremendous and he went down fighting today.
“With even luck through the midstages, he probably would have won the race.”
