Latest news with #Kingsford-SmithCup

Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Waller eyes group 1 record at bumper Eagle Farm program
When he started training almost three decades ago, Chris Waller would have been 'pretty happy' with a career that included 18 group 1 wins. With that in mind, breaking his Australian record of 18 in one season, a mark he has already achieved twice, is not something the champion Sydney trainer is too worried about heading to Eagle Farm on Saturday, where he has good chances to do just that. Waller has multiple runners in the three group 1s, headlined by Kingsford-Smith Cup favourite Joliestar ($2.20 Sportsbet) and Queensland Derby equal top elect Belle Detelle ($6.50). And while he no doubt wants to win them all, Waller is already content with a campaign highlighted by Via Sistina's record-equalling seven group 1s in a season. 'It's a long season, and it's amazing when you look back at it and say, there's been 18 group 1 winners,' said Waller, who has Via Sistina back in pre-training for a spring assault aimed at defending her Cox Plate crown. 'At the start of my career, if you said I'd train 18, I'd be pretty happy. It is amazing, and they're not easy to win, so we're very proud of our team.' Joliestar is likely to have her winter grand final in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m), which was moved back a week, and not in next Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap. 'They've got to have a break, and she doesn't have to prove much more,' Waller said.

The Age
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Waller eyes group 1 record at bumper Eagle Farm program
When he started training almost three decades ago, Chris Waller would have been 'pretty happy' with a career that included 18 group 1 wins. With that in mind, breaking his Australian record of 18 in one season, a mark he has already achieved twice, is not something the champion Sydney trainer is too worried about heading to Eagle Farm on Saturday, where he has good chances to do just that. Waller has multiple runners in the three group 1s, headlined by Kingsford-Smith Cup favourite Joliestar ($2.20 Sportsbet) and Queensland Derby equal top elect Belle Detelle ($6.50). And while he no doubt wants to win them all, Waller is already content with a campaign highlighted by Via Sistina's record-equalling seven group 1s in a season. 'It's a long season, and it's amazing when you look back at it and say, there's been 18 group 1 winners,' said Waller, who has Via Sistina back in pre-training for a spring assault aimed at defending her Cox Plate crown. 'At the start of my career, if you said I'd train 18, I'd be pretty happy. It is amazing, and they're not easy to win, so we're very proud of our team.' Joliestar is likely to have her winter grand final in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m), which was moved back a week, and not in next Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap. 'They've got to have a break, and she doesn't have to prove much more,' Waller said.