Chris and Suzanna Grace enjoyed one of the most fulfilling results one can have on a racetrack when their own home-bred mare Shillelagh recorded her first Group One victory. The daughter of Savabeel won the $1 million Kennedy Mile at Flemington on Saturday with stable-mate Tom Melbourne recording another Group One second for his OTI ownership group.

Our eight other winners this week were recorded in Sydney and Brisbane and included Unforgotten, Black On Gold, Carzoff, Zumbelina, Wayanka, My Giuliano, So You Win and Bezzina. Ranging from Northern Hemisphere imports to Aussie and Kiwi home-breds, owner/breeders to yearling sales purchases - this week’s winners are a great example of the many and varied ways horses come to the stable with each having their merits. With the Tattersall’s Horses in Training sale now behind us and our purchases there due to arrive downunder over the coming months, our next sale we are looking forward to is the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale in a couple of week’s time.

This weekend we are looking forward to having runners in all three Eastern states again with a special thanks to our team’s in each stable during what has been a busy carnival period for everyone.

We wish all of our connections the best of luck and a safe weekend!

Waller weekly news 10 november 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE• WINNERs

• News & photos

www.cwallerracing.com | admin@cwallerracing.com | +612 9760 5700

lCHRIS WALLER RACING - WINNERS THIS WEEK

shillelagh 6yo M Savabeel - Trocair by Flying Spur

This talented daughter of Savabeel gained a well deserved success at the highest level when taking out the Group One Kennedy Mile at Flemington.

It was a real Kiwi success with the mare being Kiwi owned and bred, ridden by Mick Dee and of course trained by Chris with this the stable’s 75th win at the highest level.

Dee gave her the perfect run in transit settling just behind the leaders in fourth position. They made their challenge inside the final furlong and Shillelagh battled on strongly to fend off her gallant stablemate Tom Melbourne who finished just 0.2 lengths in second position.

wayanka 4yo G Encosta de Lago - Drop Anchor by At Talaq

Wayanka was one of five to get his head in front at our home track of Rosehill on Saturday, winning over 1400m. The son of Encosta De Lago scored a narrow success under Josh Parr.

Wayanka travelled strongly throughout and Parr picked his way through the field in the straight to hit the front close to home before holding on from the fast finishing Gambler’s Blues who charged late.

zumbelina 4yo M Stratum - Ruth’s Secret by Noverre

This talented daughter of Stratum was another winner for the stable at Rosehill on Saturday winning over 1200m. Apprentice Rachel King was engaged and her valuable 2kg claim meant that Zumbelina only had 53.5kg on her back.

King settled her in mid division early on before producing her down the centre of the track with a well timed challenge to hit the front inside the final furlong for an impressive success.

Bred and owned by Winx co-owner Richard Treweeke, this talented mare is putting together an

Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Ross Stevenson and darryl sherer for our weekly photos.

www.bradleyphotos.com.au

enviable record with this being her sixth success from just 12 starts.

l

carzoff 5yo G Zoffany - Cartama by Mark of Esteem

This former French trained galloper was rewarded for his consistency when winning at Rosehill on Saturday under the in form Kathy O’Hara.

O’Hara gave him time to find his feet early on before coming with a strong run down the centre of the track to score a narrow but gutsy success.

This win is his first in Australia having scored early on in his career in France. Hopefully this likeable son of Zoffany will gain some confidence from his win and continue his consistent form over the coming weeks.

Stablemate Mornington deserves a mention as he finished well for third position at his first Australian start.

unforgotten 3yo F Fastnet Rock - Memories Of You by Galileo

This talented daughter of the great Fastnet Rock made it back to back city wins when scoring at Rosehill on Saturday over 1300m.

Jay Ford took the mount and he rode a patient race settling her well off the early speed. She travelled strongly throughout but was still well off the leaders as they turned into the straight.

When Ford got serious she let down brilliantly to hit the front close to home for what ended up being a cosy success at the finish. This was a very impressive win and on this evidence she could be up to earning some valuable black type in the future.

black on gold 4yo G Sebring - Fools Gold by Commands

Black On Gold has been in fine form of late and he continued that with a gutsy success at Rosehill

Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Ross Stevenson and darryl sherer for our weekly photos.

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on Saturday over 1800m.

Kathy O’Hara took the mount on the imposing son of Sebring and she certainly earned her riding fee as she galvanised

Click on the image to the left to watch this week’s video update with plenty of valuable insights into our runners this weekend from

Charlie and Kerrie.

video preview

Black On Gold in the closing stages to score a narrow success having saved plenty of ground on the inside in the run.

my giuliano 5yo G Choisir - Calm by Montjeu

This son of Choisir continued the good run of form for the Gold Coast stable when winning at Doomben on Saturday over 2040m.

Robbie Fradd has struck up a good relationship with the stable and he was on board on Saturday.

Happy to bide his time at the tail of the field early on, he came with a sustained run in the home straight for a narrow success. This return to the winners circle should help restore My Giuliano’s confidence. He is another great advertisement for the benefits of the change of scenery our Gold Coast stable provides.

so you win 3yo G So You Think - Rhode Island Red by Tale of the Cat

So You Think was of course a brilliant racehorse and the dual Cox Plate winning Champion is proving to be a very successful stallion. So You Win is the stable’s latest winner by him and he scored at Randwick on Wednesday over 1400m. The very capable Jay Ford took the mount and he gave him a perfect ride settling at the rear of the field early on before coming with a run through the middle of the field. So You Win hit the front inside the final furlong and despite still running greenly he kept going strongly for an impressive success.

bezzina 3yo G Smart Missile - Rubinacci byJohannesburg

This gelded son of Smart Missile returned from a brief spell to win at Kembla Grange on Tuesday over 1300m.

Jockey Patrick O’Donnell was aboard having recently rejoined the stable from the United Kingdom and settled Bezzina in midfield early on before coming with a sustained challenge in the straight for a comfortable victory in the familiar colours of the Kepitis family’s Woppitt Bloodstock.

Shillelagh heads Waller quinella in Kennedy Mile

Shillelagh was eliminated from one Group I event but managed to claim a richer contest in Saturday’s Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington.

Shillelagh was the fourth emergency for the Group I Myer Classic (1600m) against the fillies and mares but did not gain a start, which left the $1 million Kennedy Mile as her Flemington assignment.

Young Kiwi jockey Michael Dee gave Shillelagh ($12) a comfortable run, midfield on the fence from barrier two, before pushing her out to chase her Chris Waller-trained stablemate Tom Melbourne ($5) at the 400m.Tom Melbourne hit the front at the 150m but Shillelagh outgunned him late to score by a short neck while Wyndspelle was 2 ¾ lengths away in third.

“(With) 52kg on her back, never once in the race did I think she was going to get beat. She just tugged me everywhere I wanted to go, she was too good,” Dee said.

“I was able to get on the back of the right horse, and he took me far enough into the race, and she just let down very good and was too tough in the end."

Waller said Shillelagh had improved markedly in her spring preparation while winning a Group I with the daughter of Savabeel being especially satisfying given the mare’s background.

“We might have won both races, that’s the problem! She’s a good horse that’s gone to a new level this preparation in my opinion,” Waller said.

“She came to me from New Zealand in good form owned by Mr. Grace and his wife. It’s a fantastic story, they’re only an hour up the road from where I’m from (in New Zealand), one of my cousins actually works for them so it’s a very special win.”

Waller said he would consult Tom Melbourne’s managing owner, syndicator Terry Henderson, before deciding whether the import, who has finished second at five of his last six starts, would back up in next Saturday’s Emirates Stakes (2000m).

“I don’t know, he goes too keen for 2000 metres, maybe we’ll have a gear change or something like that. I’ll speak to Mr. (Terry) Henderson, he’s got a good idea about these races and we’ll see how we go,” Waller said. - Racenet.com.au

RECENTLY NAMED HORSES

Name BreedingBrazen Belle I Am Invincible - Sansadee fillyEngland Fastnet Rock - Inglorious coltHome Soil Exceed and Excel - Candlelight colt

Brazen Beau’s full sister, now named Brazen Belle.

Kiwi Breeders Celebrate Shillelagh Group One

Despite enjoying some truly remarkable achievements over many years, local thoroughbred identity Christopher Grace has no hesitation in labelling the results from Flemington on Saturday as the pinnacle of his racing and breeding career to date.

Grace and wife Susanna bred and own the Chris Waller trained Shillelagh who took out the Gr.1 Kennedy Mile while they also bred the John Sargent trained Luvaluva who had earlier won the Gr. 2 Wakeful Stakes. Although they weren't at Flemington to witness their success in person, Grace advised the pair were glued to their television throughout the day and celebrated with gusto with a small group of friends on Saturday evening.

"We had thought about going over, but I was busy at work on Thursday and Friday, so we couldn't make it," Grace explained.

"While it would have been nice to have been there the television coverage is marvellous and we probably saw as much or more than we would have being on course.

"Chris is also remarkable in the amount of information he provides so we had up to the minute snippets on how Shillelagh was and the general thrust was that he was confident of a top performance.

"We just kept our fingers crossed she could run well but when she won it was such a marvellous feeling and one that I think rates as the best we have ever had in racing."

Shillelagh is the daughter of Flying Spur mare Trocair who has proven to be a wonderful producer for the Grace's after a relatively modest career on the track.

"Roger James brought Trocair for me from the Sydney Easter sale, but she never really reached her potential on the track, winning just once from a handful of starts," said Grace.

"She is a lovely big mare and has done us proud in the breeding barn with five individual winners.

That includes Tullamore who we sold to Gai Waterhouse before he went on to win the Brisbane Cup while Grazia won a stakes race last week for Te Akau Racing.

"She just returned a positive test to Savabeel after missing to him last year, so we were delighted with that news. She is getting on a bit now so we're not sure how much longer we will breed from her, but we have retained two of her Savabeel mares along with Shillelagh, so we have plenty of ammunition from the family for future generations.

"One of those mares is Irish Dream who had her two-year-old O'Reilly filly named Dublin Rose run second at Te Aroha recently, so we're looking forward to what lies ahead for her."

Grace was equally excited to witness the victory of Luvaluva who was sold to John Sargent at the 2016 NZB Ready To Run Sale for $55,000.

"She was a lovely filly who looked like a nice staying type, so we're delighted for John and his connections on how she has developed," he said.

"She looks like she will run the Oaks trip right out so hopefully she will be in the thick of the action again on Thursday.

"Saturday's result couldn't have come at a better time as we have her half-brother by Per Incanto entered for the Ready To Run Sale later this month. Another top performance might just convince a few more to take a look at him."

The Per Incanto colt will go through the auction ring as Lot 424 from the Surrey Farm draft on Day Two of the NZB Ready To Run Sale that commences on 22 November at Karaka. – NZ Racing Desk .

Click here to go to the website for more information on our stable runners.

upcoming STABLE RUNNERS

With an outstanding record of success for a sale of its’ kind in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale can lay claim in recent years to the likes of four-time Group One and Emirates Stakes winner Turn Me Loose, Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan plus Gingernuts and recent carnival performers Main Stage and Luvaluva who were only bought at the sale last year with price tags of $55,000 and $150,000 respectively.

There’s real value to be had at the sale, to be held at Karaka on the 22nd and 23rd of November and our bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster is looking to be active at the sale. We are currently gauging interest so we can go into the sale with an idea of the numbers we’d be looking to secure so please let either Sophie (sophie@cwallerracing.com) or Liam (liam@cwallerracing.com) know and if you have any questions about the horses get in touch with Guy on g.mulcaster@hotmail.com.

If you’re interested in looking through the catalogue and watch videos of the horses breezing up over 200m last month at Te Rapa head to the New Zealand Bloodstock website here.

Thanks to Bradley Photographers, Ross Stevenson and darryl sherer for our weekly photos.

www.bradleyphotos.com.au

Wayanka celebrations.

Unforgotten celebrations.

Carzoff celebrations.

Black On Gold celebrations.

Big pats for Carzoff.

Phillip Ng and Charlie getting Unforgotten’s post race report from Jay Ford.

Beautiful Libran. Paret.

Libran. rearing to go in The Cup!

Big pats for Carzoff.

Candice and the Smart Missile - Luminova.

Lean Mean Machine working on bulking up with a bit of lucerne hay.

Impulsive.

Vaucluse Bay.

Clare and Chatelard. Nathan and Moqueen.

Ali and Faith In Hand.

Dagny.