SURPRISE SURPRISE ... IT'S CHRIS WALLER'S DONCASTER

By Graham Potter | Monday, April 6, 2015

There were many pretenders but in the end the $3 million Doncaster Mile again belonged to Chris Waller once again (for the fifth time in the last seven years) ... while Glen Boss notched his sixth win in the race!

Waller won his first Doncaster back in 2008 with Glen Boss in the saddle.

Both trainer and jockey were able to notch another milestone courtesy of a lightly raced, New Zealand bred, three-year-old colt Kermadec who outgunned his rivals with some authority in the soft conditions leaving his nearest challenger, the Japanese trained Real Impact trailing just under two lengths in arrears.

The Waller train is proving to be virtually unstoppable. There are just a few details that change as it moves along.

Last year Waller saddled the first four runners past the post in the Doncaster. This year the stable saddled the winner and the third placed finisher (Royal Descent).

The Doncaster victory was Waller’s tenth Group 1 win this season. That already translates into his personal best return so far in his career ... and we are only in April, so who would bet against Waller not only adding to that honour roll but also stretching out to a new stakes earnings record.

To do that he would have to beat the $22.8 million total he achieved in the 2013/14 racing season. He is currently a little over $5 million short of that target.

But if you think that is what the game is all about at the top of the tree you would be mistaken.

The money is important but that can always be won and lost.

It is the thrill of victory that will last forever.

Waller’s response to a major victory is more reserved than some but, in its own way, is equally as emotionally charged as those doing summersaults.

It’s then that the feeling that few can describe shines through ... when winning, as was the case with Waller in the 2015 Doncaster, is a humbling experience which projects positively for racing on all of those who witness the occasion.