Waller set to start 15th reign on a winning note at Rosehill

New Paper

21 hours ago

Fresh from a 15th crown earned from 142 metropolitan winners, Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller is unlikely to rest on his laurels at the first city meeting of the new 2025-26 season on Aug 2.
The Kiwi-born horseman saddles his usual strong squad of 16 runners at the Rosehill Gardens 10-race programme.
Unfortunately, Singapore viewers will not get to see the running of the race honouring his latest title, the Congratulations Chris Waller Handicap as the race slated as Race 10 in Sydney is not part of the Singapore Pools' Australia card.
But they can certainly take a good look at two of his smart prospects in the earlier part of the afternoon, Sister Daae, a solid each-way chance, and Concordia Wind, a value bet, in Races 5 and 7 respectively on Pools' card.
Sister Daae is only the second pick in a Benchmark 78 race, the A$160,000 (S$134,000) Congratulations James McDonald Handicap (1,400m), after the Peter Snowden-trained Tuileries, who is all the rage to score a sentimental win for Sydney's gun jockey, recently anointed its champion for the ninth time.
A four-year-old daughter of So You Think, Tuileries chalked up back-to-back wins at Canterbury and Randwick in December, earning a shot at the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1,400m) on the Gold Coast on Jan 17.
From the outermost alley in the field of 18, she still finished an eye-catching seventh to Bosustow after settling well back.
She was sent an odds-on favourite at her racing comeback at Rosehill on July 19, but was left with too much to do from a rearward spot in a muddling-run affair. She still closed in late for fourth, around ¾ length off the winner Useapin.
With that first run under the belt and the extra 200m, Tuileries is widely expected to hit the target this time, but Sister Daae could be a tough nut to crack.
At her last start in a Benchmark 72 event (1,500m) at Rosehill on July 19, the Zoustar four-year-old mare should have won if not for having to change course twice. She still ran a head second to Amusing.
Rising star Zac Lloyd, who was aboard at that torrid run, will certainly be keen to make amends.
While Sister Daae is unproven on a heavy track, it should not be much of a question mark as Zoustar's progeny are noted swimmers.
In the very next race, the shorter Benchmark 72 event over 1,200m named as the Congratulations Braith Nock Handicap in a nod to Sydney's new champion apprentice jockey, Concordia Wind may not be Waller's best bet of the day, but at 16-1, she represents superb value.
Racing in the same Hermitage green and red silks as Sister Daae, the Justify four-year-old mare showed ability with three wins from seven starts, but is resuming from a nine-month spell, which may explain the cool reception.
However, she did not show any signs of ring-rustiness at a Randwick barrier trial on July 22 when she was pushed out late to run a head-second to Mamushka.
Should her long odds still deter some, her one-from-one record on a heavy track can certainly help them take the plunge.
A spitting image of her famous sire, the game chestnut with the white face will settle in her customary role at the back for Tommy Berry before charging down the Rosehill straight.
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