Waller celebrates special first Godolphin win with idol by his side
'We've taken over from a great operation,' he said.
'Just seeing the horses come into our system, my riders have said, 'wow'. The young horses are so well-educated. Horses like her have just settled in really well.
'I was nervous coming into the race, just to make sure everything went well. It's a good relief.'
The opening race victory was fitting given Waller and McDonald's dominance last campaign to win their 15th and seventh consecutive Sydney premierships respectively.
Waller, who also won the last when Ravenclaw blitzed his rivals under Tommy Berry, said his team was continually striving to improve their Saturday strike-rate.
'It was last Saturday, end of season, straight into it,' he said.
'What can we do better? Where can we improve? Yesterday we went through the runners different to how we did before, trying to make the race day a little bit easier.'
Dream win for rookie trainer
Wyong trainer Denim Wynen was in disbelief after a former Yulong filly bought for $85,000 delivered her a first city winner on Saturday at Rosehill.
Sunshine Law, having her first start for Wynen, hit the lead 150m out and scored a half-length victory over Super Norwest in the 1400m benchmark 78 for fillies and mares. It gave Wyong apprentice Anna Roper a double and Wynen a career highlight.
Wynen, who has been training for owners for two years and has 16 horses in work, was given the Alabama Express mare after clients bought her online. Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Sunshine Law won two starts heading into the sale.
'I still can't believe it's true,' Wynen said of the $82,500 win.
'Credit to [the owners], they picked it. They've been a big support to my stable the last six months. They bought some weanlings and they wanted to get to the races sooner, so they decided to go to the tried sales and picked up two nice horses from Yulong, so I think we're going to have some fun with them.'
The 29-year-old said Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan had been a guiding light.
'I didn't want to go to school any more when I was 14 and my brother was working with horses and my mum said if I got a job, I was allowed to leave school, and I went and worked for Kristen Buchanan,' she said.
'She took me in and she was like a mum to me and that's where I've been since.'
Wynen's other runner, Monkhana, was second in the Midway handicap.
Pride eyes another dance for Headley
Trainer Joe Pride was looking to give Headley Grange another shot at a Big Dance qualifier after he bounced back with a two-length victory on Saturday.
Headley Grange was sixth as favourite in Big Dance qualifier South Grafton Cup last start, after winning the listed Civic Stakes at Randwick, and he thrived on heavy going in the rain at Rosehill under Adam Hyeronimus in the 1500m open handicap.
'I'm not sure where his ceiling is,' Pride said.
'I don't think he's a serious group horse, but I think he's a really nice horse who's already won one black-type race and I'm sure there's plenty more to come.
'At some point I want to give him another go at a Big Dance qualifier.'
Hyeronimus made it a double with an all-the-way win on The Novelist for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the benchmark 94 (1300m). Bott said the Goulburn Cup could be next for The Novelist.
Trainer Bjorn Baker also had a bounce-back win, when Stardeel led all the way under Josh Parr in the benchmark 72 (1200m), after coming from last to finish fourth last week at Randwick. Baker said Stardeel would likely go for a spell.
Freedmans weigh up Four Pillars
Will Freedman quipped he 'might have to lock in an apprentice now' to take weight off Cold Brew in the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway (1500m) on November 1 at Rosehill after the four-year-old cruised to victory at the track on Saturday.
Backing up first wins at Hawkesbury and Newcastle, Cold Brew defied a three-wide run without cover under Jason Collett to surge to an almost four-length win in the Midway benchmark 72 (1400m).
Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father, Richard, said Cold Brew may go for a spell before a potential Four Pillars shot, although he feared the gelding may get weighted out of the benchmark 68 race.
Loading
'His rating might be too big now, but he might be a Four Pillars horse. He's pretty progressive,' Freedman said of Cold Brew, which was rated at 68 before the victory.
Dunn mare shines in Kosciuszko trial
Unbeaten mare Without Parallel pushed her claims for a slot in the $2 million Kosciuszko with a dominant victory in the class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.
Under two-kilogram claiming apprentice Anna Roper, the Matt Dunn-trained favourite raced outside leader Where's The Fire from gate three and took over at the top of the straight before cruising to an almost five-length win.
It was a first test on heavy ground and in Highway grade for the four-year-old, which now has four victories from four starts and opened as a $26 chance for the Kosciuszko slot race after Saturday's win.
The 1200m Kosciuszko, held on Everest day, October 18 at Randwick, is the richest race for country-trained horses.
Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn also put the Kosciuszko in plans for Elson Boy, which held off Waller-trained Captain Furai in the ninth, a benchmark 78 (1400m), for a first win in 412 days.
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News.com.au
15 hours ago
- News.com.au
New trainer Nacim Dilmi eyes debut winner as new Domeland chapter begins at Canterbury Park
Ex-Godolphin assistant Nacim Dilmi will be eager to emulate a feat of his long-time boss James Cummings when he begins his first foray into training at Canterbury Park on Wednesday. 'James' first runner when he and Bart (Cummings) went into partnership was a winner, then when Bart passed away his first runner was a winner then his first runner at Godolphin was a winner,' Dilmi said. 'I spoke to James on Monday and told him I will try to do the same.' Dilmi is the latest Godolphin product to begin the next phase of his racing journey as new head trainer for Domeland on the Central Coast. The French-born horseman was announced as the replacement for Sara Ryan late last month and has moved to Wyong after several years heading up Godolphin's Melbourne operation. Domeland has 35 boxes at Wyong racecourse and a 260-acre Kulnura property that features a 3000m grass track. 'Sara has been here for a few years now and Tuesday was actually my second day,' Dilmi said. 'If the horses go well on Wednesday, I can't really take much credit because Sara has done most of the work with the horses. 'From what I've seen the horses are in good form and everyone in the stable has been helpful.' Dilmi's first runner as a trainer will be last start Tamworth winner Rebel Rhapsody ($21) in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Benchmark 64 (1550m). How Much Better ($10) is in the Casino Prince @ Vinery Stud Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) while Aix En Provence ($11) contests the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1900m). He won't have to wait long for a maiden Sydney Saturday runner with Irish import Salt Lake City poised to line up in Saturday's Premier's Cup Prelude (1800m) at Royal Randwick. 'It's a great opportunity and for me to be able to start with horses that are ready to go is handy, walking into a business that is already up and going,' Dilmi said. 'It makes it easier but at the same time I have to make it my own and the changes may take a few weeks. 'If we can adapt and make it a great start to the season, it will be make it better.' Dilmi's former employer Godolphin got their next chapter off to a winning start last weekend when classy mare Amusing scored for new trainer Chris Waller in what was their first runner for a public stable.
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
Trainer Denim Wynen celebrates first city success with ex-Yulong mare at Rosehill
Yulong's loss was Denim Wynen's gain as Sunshine Law delivered the young trainer her maiden city winner at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Wynen, 29, enjoyed the biggest moment of her career to date when her new edition handled the heavy conditions to prevail in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m). Sunshine Law had previously been trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald and raced in the silks of breeding powerhouse Yulong before being sold online to Wynen's connections for $85,000. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I am so stoked,' Wynen said. 'Coming into today, I hate being too confident with people but in myself I knew I had quite a good horse coming here. 'The trackwork rider, after the first gallop she had on her, said she thinks she is quite a serious horse so for her to say that, I thought I have a nice horse.' Sunshine Law had won her last two starts for the Archibalds at Canberra and Hawkesbury but her latest success ensured her new owners for an immediate return on their investment. The daughter of Alabama Express banked just shy of her purchase price with an $82,500 winner's cheque. 'Credit to them, they picked it,' Wynen said. 'They rang me the day before and said they were looking at some tried horses online. 'They have been a big support to my stable in the last six months and bought some weanlings and wanted to get to the races sooner. 'They decided to go to the tried sales and picked up two nice horses from Yulong so I think we are going to have some fun with them.' Apprentice Anna Roper brought up a quick-fire early double with a confident steer aboard Sunshine Law. • Unbeaten mare Without Parallel emerges as Kosciuszko contender Roper, who had just booted home Kosciuszko hopeful Without Parallel, found herself in the box seat and had no trouble getting a run off the leaders back. Sunshine Law ($4.80) keep finding to the line to hold off the Matthew Dale-trained Super Norwest ($7) by a half-length while Chris Waller's Pippie Beach ($4) was third. 'It was a really good win,' Roper said. 'I thought she was feeling the pinch a bit the last 100m and I think she started to have a little think about it but the horse to her inside kept her going. 'It was a really good tough effort first-up today.' Wynen dipped her two in the water as a hobby trainer but has taken over the past two years and is building a small stable on the Central Coast. 'I had a hobby, just a couple of my own, but just two years for owners and I am loving it,' she said. 'I only have six in work, I do all the work myself, literally seven days morning and afternoon so it's a good number.' Meanwhile, the Joseph Pride-trained Headley Grange bounced back to his best as the rain poured down in Sydney. • Waller and J-Mac ignite Godolphin's new era Headley Grange was a winner of the Listed Civic Stakes earlier this preparation before attempting to qualify for the Big Dance via the South Grafton Cup but failed to fire on the firm track. He faced vastly different conditions in his return to town on a heavy 10 surface for the National Jockeys Trust Handicap (1500m). Headley Grange ($3.70) thrived in the tough going under the urging of Adam Hyeronimus as he surged away to score by two lengths from Adam Duggan's Diamond Diesel ($20) while Pride's Estadio Mestalla ($5) was third. 'He is honest and genuine,' Pride said. 'I think people who like backing him, keep backing him because he turns up and wins when he gets the opportunity. 'I would be forgiving of him for his last start at Grafton when I really thought that track was too hard for him. 'I wouldn't run him on a surface that firm again, he enjoys tracks with the string out of them.'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Waller celebrates special first Godolphin win with idol by his side
Waller said it was 'an honour to be regarded as being good enough to train for' Godolphin, who had been his stable's biggest competitor and 'best yardstick'. 'We've taken over from a great operation,' he said. 'Just seeing the horses come into our system, my riders have said, 'wow'. The young horses are so well-educated. Horses like her have just settled in really well. 'I was nervous coming into the race, just to make sure everything went well. It's a good relief.' The opening race victory was fitting given Waller and McDonald's dominance last campaign to win their 15th and seventh consecutive Sydney premierships respectively. Waller, who also won the last when Ravenclaw blitzed his rivals under Tommy Berry, said his team was continually striving to improve their Saturday strike-rate. 'It was last Saturday, end of season, straight into it,' he said. 'What can we do better? Where can we improve? Yesterday we went through the runners different to how we did before, trying to make the race day a little bit easier.' Dream win for rookie trainer Wyong trainer Denim Wynen was in disbelief after a former Yulong filly bought for $85,000 delivered her a first city winner on Saturday at Rosehill. Sunshine Law, having her first start for Wynen, hit the lead 150m out and scored a half-length victory over Super Norwest in the 1400m benchmark 78 for fillies and mares. It gave Wyong apprentice Anna Roper a double and Wynen a career highlight. Wynen, who has been training for owners for two years and has 16 horses in work, was given the Alabama Express mare after clients bought her online. Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Sunshine Law won two starts heading into the sale. 'I still can't believe it's true,' Wynen said of the $82,500 win. 'Credit to [the owners], they picked it. They've been a big support to my stable the last six months. They bought some weanlings and they wanted to get to the races sooner, so they decided to go to the tried sales and picked up two nice horses from Yulong, so I think we're going to have some fun with them.' The 29-year-old said Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan had been a guiding light. 'I didn't want to go to school any more when I was 14 and my brother was working with horses and my mum said if I got a job, I was allowed to leave school, and I went and worked for Kristen Buchanan,' she said. 'She took me in and she was like a mum to me and that's where I've been since.' Wynen's other runner, Monkhana, was second in the Midway handicap. Pride eyes another dance for Headley Trainer Joe Pride was looking to give Headley Grange another shot at a Big Dance qualifier after he bounced back with a two-length victory on Saturday. Headley Grange was sixth as favourite in Big Dance qualifier South Grafton Cup last start, after winning the listed Civic Stakes at Randwick, and he thrived on heavy going in the rain at Rosehill under Adam Hyeronimus in the 1500m open handicap. 'I'm not sure where his ceiling is,' Pride said. 'I don't think he's a serious group horse, but I think he's a really nice horse who's already won one black-type race and I'm sure there's plenty more to come. 'At some point I want to give him another go at a Big Dance qualifier.' Hyeronimus made it a double with an all-the-way win on The Novelist for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the benchmark 94 (1300m). Bott said the Goulburn Cup could be next for The Novelist. Trainer Bjorn Baker also had a bounce-back win, when Stardeel led all the way under Josh Parr in the benchmark 72 (1200m), after coming from last to finish fourth last week at Randwick. Baker said Stardeel would likely go for a spell. Freedmans weigh up Four Pillars Will Freedman quipped he 'might have to lock in an apprentice now' to take weight off Cold Brew in the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway (1500m) on November 1 at Rosehill after the four-year-old cruised to victory at the track on Saturday. Backing up first wins at Hawkesbury and Newcastle, Cold Brew defied a three-wide run without cover under Jason Collett to surge to an almost four-length win in the Midway benchmark 72 (1400m). Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father, Richard, said Cold Brew may go for a spell before a potential Four Pillars shot, although he feared the gelding may get weighted out of the benchmark 68 race. Loading 'His rating might be too big now, but he might be a Four Pillars horse. He's pretty progressive,' Freedman said of Cold Brew, which was rated at 68 before the victory. Dunn mare shines in Kosciuszko trial Unbeaten mare Without Parallel pushed her claims for a slot in the $2 million Kosciuszko with a dominant victory in the class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. Under two-kilogram claiming apprentice Anna Roper, the Matt Dunn-trained favourite raced outside leader Where's The Fire from gate three and took over at the top of the straight before cruising to an almost five-length win. It was a first test on heavy ground and in Highway grade for the four-year-old, which now has four victories from four starts and opened as a $26 chance for the Kosciuszko slot race after Saturday's win. The 1200m Kosciuszko, held on Everest day, October 18 at Randwick, is the richest race for country-trained horses. Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn also put the Kosciuszko in plans for Elson Boy, which held off Waller-trained Captain Furai in the ninth, a benchmark 78 (1400m), for a first win in 412 days.
