Premier trainer Chris Waller has broken all records celebrating his incredible 18th Group 1 win for the season with Invincibella saluting in the Group 1 $500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Invincibella (pictured winning the Dane Ripper) takes out the 2019 Tatt’s Tiara for record-breaking trainer Chris Waller. Photo: Steve Hart.
Coming into the final elite level of the 2018-19 racing season, Waller sat equal with the late Tommy Smith on 17 Group 1 champions in a single season – seven of which were thanks to the world’s greatest mare Winx.
He surpassed the great TJ Smith (1979-80 season) in a history making Tattersall’s Tiara result, his dual Dane Ripper Stakes winning mare Invincibella defeating the Godolphin-raced filly Pohutukawa (2nd) and her well-backed stablemate Savatiano (3rd).
I Am Invincible five-year-old Invincibella ran fifth in last year’s Tiara after her first Dane Ripper Stakes success but atoned in 2019 with her long-neck success for Waller.
She became the seventh Tattersall’s Tiara winner since 2009 to come out of the Dane Ripper and was ridden to victory by Jason Collett.
Collett added to the fairy-tale Tiara result, finally posting that elusive Group 1 winning ride as a hoop after 11 Group 1 second placings.
“It’s a long time coming,” Collett said after the victory.
“She copped a fair bump…she managed to pick herself up.
“A very good effort by Chris and his team.
“She’s a multiple Group 2 winner and now a Group 1 winner.”
Glenlogan Park Stakes winner Savatiano jumped the $4.40 favourite in the Tiara for trainer James Cummings and jockey Tommy Berry had her settled second in the run.
With 250m left to run on the straight the punters’ pick was out and leading.
Savatiano however was no match in the end for her younger stablemate Pohutukawa down the outside and the winner Invincibella who stole the show with an inside dash for the line.
“I was starting to think I was cursed, I saw the Cummings horse [Pohutukawa] loom up late and thought I was going to finish second again, but twelfth time was the charm,” Collett said.
“She’s such a tough mare and to do it for Chris who’s always supported me it’s a dream.”
Invincibella joined Red Tracer (2013) and Cosmic Endeavour (2014) becoming the third mare in the last 11 years to win the Dane Ripper – Tatt’s Tiara double.
Waller is likely to return to Queensland with Invincibella chasing more success in the sunshine state at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Racing Carnival in January next year.
She won the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m) narrowly in both 2018 and 2019 and could chase a third successive victory in the clash in 2020.
