Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has grand Winter Carnival plans in mind for yesterday’s Canterbury Park winner Trafalgar.
Trainer Chris Waller, above, has set Canterbury Park winner Trafalgar for the 2016 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Waller immediately pencilled in the Group 1 $600,000 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11 for Trafalgar after he scored a narrow win in the BenchMark 66 Handicap over 1900m with Glyn Schofield in the saddle.
Yesterday’s win was the Hinchinbrook three year old’s second from only three starts and Waller believes that he could easily have been undefeated after being beaten a head when second two starts back over 1800m at Randwick.
Trafalgar had previously won on debut in a 1500m Kembla Grange Maiden.
“He could just as easily have won three in a row,” Waller AAP.
“That’s what good horses do. They either win or come second and he is a good horse in the making.
“It’s great to be able to educate them and see the results and see him finish his races off like he does.”
Waller can see the staying potential in Trafalgar but is happy to bypass the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championships’ and concentrate on a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign.
“I think he is a Derby horse but the Australian Derby will probably come too soon,” Waller said.
“The likely program would be to give him one more start and then set him for the Queensland Derby in June.
“I don’t think 2400 metres will be beyond him.”
Trafalgar was the first leg of a winning Canterbury Park double for Schofield and the all-conquering Waller stable with Spiritos also carrying the purple and white stars of Star Thoroughbreds to victory in the BenchMark 67 Handicap over 1550m.
While Waller was impressed that the Rothsay three year old was able to beat the older horses, he has no big race plans for him.
“It is always hard to beat older horses so it was a good win,” Waller said.
“He is a good off-season horse and if we place him right he can be a good money spinner for the stable.”
Waller continues to dominate the Sydney training ranks and has already recorded eighty-six winners for the 2015 – 2016 season.
