Latest news with #Imperialist
New Paper
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Waller eyeing 4th Queensland Derby
BRISBANE It has been anything bar a conventional lead-up for Chris Waller's trio of runners in the A$1 million (S$829,000) Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. The master trainer has won the race three times, first with Hawkspur in 2013 followed by Kukeracha in 2021 and Kovalica in 2023. The multiple Sydney champion trainer will again travel to the Sunshine State, sending up leading hope Belle Detelle as well as Imperialist and Existential Bob this year. Belle Detelle already boasts a famous lineage. She is a three-quarter sister to Waller's 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant. The two share the same sire Zed while Verry Elleegant's dam Opulence is the mother of Belle Detelle's dam, Black Lace. Belle Detelle, whose two wins include the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2,000m), is aiming to become just the third filly after Riva San (2008) and Dariana (2010) to win the Queensland Derby this century, with Waller preferring the true mile-and-a-half journey over the 2,200m of the Queensland Oaks. She finished sixth to stablemate Imperialist in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2,000m) at Doomben on May 17 at her last start. She was the favourite while Imperialist was unwanted at 60-1, but Waller said that Belle Detelle's run was more than acceptable given the circumstances. "It was solid, it was a very wet track," said Waller. "She got a long way back and she finished off well. The barrier draw (is important), whether it's Eagle Farm or Doomben, doesn't matter where you're at." Unfortunately for connections, Belle Detelle has drawn barrier No. 21, which will come into 17 of 18 if emergencies fail to get a run, with champion jockey James McDonald booked to ride. The pairing combined only once, in the Rough Habit Plate. While tactics remain a query for Belle Detelle, Waller confirmed Imperialist would be ridden similarly to last start when leading throughout to spring a surprise in the Rough Habit Plate, named after the champion New Zealand galloper, himself a Queensland Derby winner in 1990. "Imperialist surprised us a little bit. In the Australian Derby, we went back to last and he never made an impact, so we just sort of formed the opinion that he might not stay," said Waller of the Churchill gelding who had shown mixed form in the run-up. "I asked Tommy Berry after the Rough Habit and he said 'no, he'll get further'. So, (as he was) obviously ridden close to the speed the other day, we'll ride him similarly on Saturday." The trio is rounded out by last-start Ipswich winner Existential Bob, a two-time victorious Ocean Park gelding whom Waller himself owns alongside wife Stephanie. "Existential Bob won at Ipswich the other day. He's come up here to run in the Derby and he'll stay," said Waller who has handed the reins to Jason Collett, who was Existential Bob's winning partner at his maiden win at Wyong. "He's by Ocean Park, he needs to improve but he's in there (with a chance) as well." At 6-1, Belle Detelle is the second favourite in an open market headed by 4-1 shot Statuario, who ran second to Femminile in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2,500m) at Morphettville on May 3. Wife-and-husband training duo Emma-Lee and David Browne are hoping Statuario can go one better in their hunt for a first Group 1 win. Besides Belle Detelle, the Phillip Stokes-trained and just Yulong-acquired Femminile is one of four fillies in the Queensland Derby, alongside Lindsay Park's Chase Your Dreams and standby starter Eclair Encore who got in following the scratching of Saint Emilion. Gun Melbourne jockey Blake Shinn had to forfeit the plum ride on Femminile after hurting his left foot in a jumpout on May 26. As a result, Tim Clark, who was booked on the Ciaron Maher-trained Saint Emilion, will partner Femminile. SKY RACING WORLD
New Paper
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
King Of Thunder can rule in Derby
BRISBANE A wet track may have thwarted the finishing power of King Of Thunder in his last start, but his connections are hoping a drier surface will enable the horse to show his true colours in the A$1 million (S$834,000) Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. Trained by John O'Shea and Tom Charlton, King Of Thunder - a Tivaci three-year-old gelding - finished third to the Chris Waller-trained Imperialist in heavy conditions at his final lead-up run in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2,000m) at Doomben on May 17. Ridden by Mark Zahra, the two-time winner came off his midfield position and began to knuckle down to the task at the 250m. He chased Imperialist, who had shot to the lead under Tommy Berry, but could manage to finish only within less than two lengths off the winner. Deep Focus (Michael Rodd) ended a touch better than him on the outside to beat him to second place by ¼ length. While co-trainer Charlton, son of the successful British trainer Roger Charlton, was contented with King Of Thunder's run, he thought the bay galloper was not at his best on the rain-affected surface. "It looked like he was coming to make his challenge and just worked away to the line," he said. "He shows a few more gears than that normally. The comment from the rider (Zahra) was he just got slightly dulled given the conditions. "We were delighted with him the other day. He didn't love that ground and he's probably looking for a bit more of a test, which he will get on Saturday." Fine weather is forecast in Brisbane this week and King Of Thunder will arrive at Eagle Farm well-seasoned, as the classic race at the Brisbane Winter Carnival will be the third Derby he has contested. King Of Thunder finished seventh to Goldrush Guru in the Group 1 Victorian Derby (2,500m) at Flemington on Nov 2, 2024. He then ran fifth behind Aeliana in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2,400m) during the Autumn Carnival at Randwick on April 5. King Of Thunder's connections are hoping the Queensland Derby will be a case of "third-time lucky" for their ward. "He has been running really well in all these Derby races and has a likeable profile going into it," said Charlton. King Of Thunder remains a 5-1 Derby favourite, while stablemate Hurstville Zagreb has drifted from odds of 10-1 to 14-1 after the Divine Prophet three-year-old was beaten into third behind Let's Fly in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1,800m) at Randwick on May 24. The Richard and Will Freedman-trained Let's Fly is being considered for a Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) tilt. Co-trainer Will has confirmed they will see how the Flying Artie filly comes through the race, before deciding whether to pay the late entry fee for the three-time winner to run. The Queensland Oaks will be held at Eagle Farm on June 7. SKY RACING WORLD
Herald Sun
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Imperialist reigns with an upset win in Rough Habit
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sydney's premier trainer Waller had four horses in the 2000m race, headlined by three-year-old filly Belle Detelle, who started the contest as the $3 favourite but got too far back at the start and was never in contention as $71 shot Imperialist pulled off a massive upset. With Tommy Berry riding, the three-year-old gelding finished ahead of fellow roughie, Queenslander Deep Focus ($81), and the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained King Of Thunder ($7.50) on the Heavy 8 track. • 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! Imperialist, by Churchill, races in the colours of Brisbane larrikin owner Noel Greenhalgh, who won the 2022 Melbourne Cup as a part-owner of Gold Trip. The gelding was coming off a disappointing ninth in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) this month at Eagle Farm so punters can be excused for steering well clear of him. 'We didn't know what to do with him after his last start, we tried blinkers and it didn't work,' Waller said. 'So we took them off and suggested to Tommy that we ride him a bit closer to the speed today. 'He had a nice soft time up front and it sparked some interest. He brought some good form to Sydney from Melbourne, but then didn't quite stay the 2400m. 'We'll try to make him stay now. I'll have a chat to Tommy (Berry) to see what he says, but I do have some concerns over the 2400 metres. 'The Churchills tend to be slightly speedier horses, so we'll have a think over the next few days about whether or not we go there (to the Queensland Derby).' Imperialist has firmed to $15 for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. Berry said he was happy to finish Doomben 10,000 day on a high note after riding his first winner in this year's Queensland Winter Carnival. 'Full credit to the team at home, this horse has always had ability but it hasn't been easy to get the best out of him,' Berry said. 'Chris took the blinkers back off and we just changed things up a little bit in the hope that we'd get a result. 'He's the best trainer of stayers around, so if he thinks he can get the horse to stay, then he can get the horse to stay. 'I've had a bit of luck in these colours in the past but it's been a while, so it was nice to salute in them again today.' Trainer Paul Shailer was delighted with the outstanding run of Deep Focus, who started big odds but charged home and is now a $15 chance for the Queensland Derby. Originally published as Chris Waller produces masterstroke with gear change and drop in distance as Imperialist win the Rough Habit
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Chris Waller produced a masterstroke with a gear change and a drop in distance as Imperialist win the Rough Habit
Most punters were probably hoping that a Chris Waller -trained horse won the $250,000 Group 3 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben on Saturday but they wouldn't have expected it to be Imperialist. Sydney's premier trainer Waller had four horses in the 2000m race, headlined by three-year-old filly Belle Detelle, who started the contest as the $3 favourite but got too far back at the start and was never in contention as $71 shot Imperialist pulled off a massive upset. With Tommy Berry riding, the three-year-old gelding finished ahead of fellow roughie, Queenslander Deep Focus ($81), and the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton -trained King Of Thunder ($7.50) on the Heavy 8 track. Imperialist, by Churchill, races in the colours of Brisbane larrikin owner Noel Greenhalgh, who won the 2022 Melbourne Cup as a part-owner of Gold Trip. The gelding was coming off a disappointing ninth in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) this month at Eagle Farm so punters can be excused for steering well clear of him. 'We didn't know what to do with him after his last start, we tried blinkers and it didn't work,' Waller said. 'So we took them off and suggested to Tommy that we ride him a bit closer to the speed today. 'He had a nice soft time up front and it sparked some interest. He brought some good form to Sydney from Melbourne, but then didn't quite stay the 2400 metres. 'We'll try to make him stay now. I'll have a chat to Tommy (Berry) to see what he says, but I do have some concerns over the 2400 metres. 'The Churchills tend to be slightly speedier horses, so we'll have a think over the next few days about whether or not we go there (to the Queensland Derby).' Imperialist adds some value to the Doomben quaddie, taking out the last at Doomben at a big price! ðŸ'° @TommyBerry21 @cwallerracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Imperialist has firmed to $15 for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. Berry said he was happy to finish Doomben 10,000 day on a high note after riding his first winner in this year's Queensland Winter Carnival. 'Full credit to the team at home, this horse has always had ability but it hasn't been easy to get the best out of him,' Berry said. 'Chris took the blinkers back off and we just changed things up a little bit in the hope that we'd get a result. 'He's the best trainer of stayers around, so if he thinks he can get the horse to stay, then he can get the horse to stay. 'I've had a bit of luck in these colours in the past but it's been a while, so it was nice to salute in them again today.' Trainer Paul Shailer was delighted with the outstanding run of Deep Focus, who started big odds but charged home and is now a $15 chance for the Queensland Derby.
