‘He's a real horseman': Waller ‘honoured' to give veteran jockey city chances
Veteran jockey Jeff Penza is content riding on the provincial and country circuits, but when Chris Waller calls needing someone to fill the void in town, he answers.
And Waller says it's an honour to give the 55-year-old opportunities.
Penza will make a rare trip to a Saturday metropolitan meeting to partner up to six Waller-trained runners, including WJ McKell Cup chance Je Zous, on the 10-race card at Rosehill.
'I'd struggle to get seven rides at the provincials on a Saturday, so very happy,' said Penza, who was down for seven Waller rides before Chica Mojito was scratched on Thursday.
'I don't do a lot of trackwork for him, but I always fill the gaps when they need me to. If they ring me up the night before and ask me to do trackwork, I'm always going to say yes.
'We go back a long, long way. I'm pretty sure I was riding for him when he first came over from New Zealand [in 2000], so he's very supportive and I appreciate it very much.'
Penza rides consistently for Waller at provincial meetings, but he has enjoyed success with the premier Sydney stable at higher levels, including with long-shot Summer Flame just last month in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone.
Waller said there were 'lots of options, but we had no hesitation going to Jeff' for Saturday's runners.
'He's a credit to himself and his family, how fit he keeps himself, and he's a real horseman,' said Waller, who will win a 15th consecutive Sydney trainers premiership.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
2025 WJ McKell Cup: Jockey Jeff Penza to ride Je Zous for trainer Chris Waller
Prolific hoop Jeff Penza and champion trainer Chris Waller will be out to orchestrate another feature race heist with promising import Je Zous in Saturday's Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Waller has called upon one of his most reliable sources to pilot several of his key chances on home turf, including his lightly-raced new addition, with many of Sydney's big guns either on holidays or riding on Group 1 Tatt's Tiara day at Eagle Farm. Penza and Waller have made for a formidable combination for many years with the hoop riding 80 winners for the champion conditioner – the second-most of any trainer he has ridden for. It was only recently when the dynamic duo combined for a shock stakes win in May when $61 outsider Summer Flame scored an upset win in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone. 'We've had a terrific run together,' Penza said. 'It's always a pleasure riding his horses. 'They are always extremely well trained and tractable. 'Chris at Rosehill is always going to have plenty of runners and he always looks after me on provincial Saturdays.' Summer Flame wins the Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone in a boilover! ðŸ'° @cwallerracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • 'We have to focus on the positive things about our sport': O'Shea's rallying cry Je Zous is only in her first preparation in Australia after racing with success in Europe, winning at Group 3 level in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes at Gowran Park last year. The Waller stable has indicated Je Zous could be a potential Caulfield Cup hopeful and the Zoustar mare could take a significant step in that direction in the McKell Cup for which she is rated a $26 chance. 'She looks to have some really nice form overseas,' Penza said. 'She is only having her second run in Australia obviously and is second up there on Saturday. 'It was short of her best the other day (1400m) so the step up to 2000m should suit her. 'It sounds like she is a horse they have some time for.' 🥇GROUP 3 WINNER🥇 JE ZOUS wins the @Lanwades Stud Stakes @GowranPark1 for @_GoRacing @JosephOBrien2 and @DylanBrowneMcM â�ï¸� Bought from @RionaT27 from the @InfoArqana @BrzUps. Congratulations to all connections! #AnEyeForSuccess #BlandfordBloodstock — Blandford Bloodstock (@BlandfordBldstk) September 21, 2024 Penza has six rides in total for Waller across the card. A rider of more than 2300 winners, the talented hoop is closing the half century mark for this season and has a strong book at Moruya to prepare for Saturday's card. The 55-year-old is enjoying life in the saddle as much as ever. 'My body is feeling really good,' Penza said. 'If you don't enjoy it, you won't do it very well but I am enjoying it. I am very happy. 'I had a bit of a lean trot there for a while but it comes and goes and I think the last month or two months have been really good. 'Hopefully I can continue that into next season and have a good season again.' Penza will be in line to chase a Cup double on Saturday's program with the experienced hoop set to connect with Speycaster ($6.50) in the Irresistible Pools Benchmark 90 Stayer's Cup (2400m). Speycaster was too good in the Stayer's Cup over 2400m for @cwallerracing ðŸ�‡ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024 • Rosehill Turf Talk for Saturday: $19 value bet Speycaster's last win came in the same race last year after finishing seventh in the Listed Winter Cup the previous start. He was fourth in the same lead-up this year. 'Speycaster put in an improved performance last start and the 2400m should suit him,' Penza said. 'He did win this race last year.' Penza also combines with Maori Chief (race 3), Changing Colours (race 4), Vanessi (race 5) and Lenapi Vibe (race 8). Bookies rate Changing Colours ($4.80) as the best of those chances, with the daughter of The Autumn Sun set to return to Sydney after a run of three straight close seconds in Melbourne, the most recent behind Suances at Sandown. @LukeCartwrightt is a rising star among the riding ranks ðŸ'ˆ @moodyracingpgm — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 'Changing Colours has had those three seconds in a row down in Melbourne so she is knocking on the door,' Penza said. 'I don't know her too well given she has been racing in Melbourne but her form is very consistent so hopefully she can step up in Sydney.' Maori Chief ($14) can reap the benefits of an inside draw in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) while Vanessi ($15) is second-up in the TAB Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). Lenape Vibe ($41) is an outside chance in Asahi Super Dry Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m).
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
From packing his bags to glory days: Morgan out to cap amazing season
At the start of this season, getting the ride on an early favourite in a stakes race in town would have been a major moment for Ash Morgan. But then again, at the start of the season, the Newcastle-based Welshman was thinking about packing his bags and going home to the UK as well. Now a group 1-winning, in-demand jockey in Sydney, Morgan will look to add to his 'incredible' season with a sixth stakes victory when he rides Glory Daze in the listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. All five of Morgan's Australian stakes wins have come this year, after riding Iowna Merc to victory in the listed Canterbury Sprint on New Year's Day. The real turning point, though, came on November 2 when he took Private Harry to his maiden win at Newcastle. The Nathan Doyle-trained colt remains unbeaten in five starts, giving Morgan his biggest wins, in the group 1 Galaxy and $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight, and changing his life in the process. 'It's been incredible,' Morgan said. 'Before Harry won his maiden, I was thinking I might just pack my bags up and go home. Then I won the maiden on him and I thought, no, I better stay a bit longer. 'But there was a time I was thinking that. My daughter is at home, in Ireland, and I'm thinking, what am I doing? 'I was riding plenty of winners, but it wasn't what I wanted to do, but then he won his maiden and there was a reason to stay.'
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘He's a real horseman': Waller ‘honoured' to give veteran jockey city chances
Veteran jockey Jeff Penza is content riding on the provincial and country circuits, but when Chris Waller calls needing someone to fill the void in town, he answers. And Waller says it's an honour to give the 55-year-old opportunities. Penza will make a rare trip to a Saturday metropolitan meeting to partner up to six Waller-trained runners, including WJ McKell Cup chance Je Zous, on the 10-race card at Rosehill. 'I'd struggle to get seven rides at the provincials on a Saturday, so very happy,' said Penza, who was down for seven Waller rides before Chica Mojito was scratched on Thursday. 'I don't do a lot of trackwork for him, but I always fill the gaps when they need me to. If they ring me up the night before and ask me to do trackwork, I'm always going to say yes. 'We go back a long, long way. I'm pretty sure I was riding for him when he first came over from New Zealand [in 2000], so he's very supportive and I appreciate it very much.' Penza rides consistently for Waller at provincial meetings, but he has enjoyed success with the premier Sydney stable at higher levels, including with long-shot Summer Flame just last month in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone. Waller said there were 'lots of options, but we had no hesitation going to Jeff' for Saturday's runners. 'He's a credit to himself and his family, how fit he keeps himself, and he's a real horseman,' said Waller, who will win a 15th consecutive Sydney trainers premiership.
