Waller brings up double century
Chris Waller has arrived back in Sydney from a short holiday just in time to welcome his 200th winner for the season.
Sydney’s premier trainer rarely takes time off but says he came back to a stable running smoothly after six days away.
Via Napoli won the opening race, beating her fellow three-year-old fillies in the 1400m-maiden.
“It’s a great team effort,” Waller said.
“I walked into the stable this morning and everything was as it should be.
“We’ve got systems in place and more importantly, the people to apply them.
“It’s been hard because our assistant trainer Peter Muscutt has been laid up with a bad back for several weeks but everything is going well.”
Lady Le Fay gave the stable a winning double when she edged out stablemate Weary in the Tommy Hill Memorial Hcp (2000m).
It was the mare’s first win since she moved Australia from the New Zealand stable of Waller’s ex-foreman Paul Shailer.
“There’s a 2000 metre Listed race at Rosehill in a couple of weeks that will be perfect for her,” Waller said.
Fellow trainer Gary Portelli doesn’t have any big plans for Texas Rebel who broke his maiden in the HMAS Australia (1400m) at his fourth start.
The three-year-old is a younger half brother of the Portelli-trained Group One winner Rebel Dane.
“I’m really not sure what we will do with him now he has won but we are hoping obviously there are more in store,” Portelli said.
“We may give him one more this preparation.
“He is still a bit immature and he is a big awkward horse – bigger than his brother.
“But he does have some ability.”
Portelli confirmed Rebel Dane was in the spelling paddock and would not take part in the Brisbane winter carnival.