THE PETLEY REPORT: CHRIS WALLER SET TO ADD TO HIS ALREADY INCREDIBLE SEASON'S STATISTICS

By Jack Petley | Saturday, June 19, 2021

Chris Waller has packed the fields at Rosehill Gardens today and I'm predicting that he will carry all before him and add further to those incredible figures for the season. He leads the Australian Trainers Premiership with 304 wins (Maher-Eustace is second on 239), 279.5 2nds, 252.5 3rds and 242 4ths … and a massive stake balance of $40, 891 620!!

Let’s look at Waller’s chances today. In Race 2, import Wicklow ($1.50) runs in a small field and he looks to be a rising staying star for the stable with a decisive last start win. In race 4, looks a big chance with the former NZ galloper No Compromise ($3.50). Crushed his rivals last time and the stable rate him, like Wicklow, as one of the gallopers ready to go into higher grade. In race 3, Fastconi ($4.80) looks one of the best chance there and also goes into the race as a last start winner … and in Race 6 he has the favourite, Tycoonist, who has turned in two solid placings and sits at $3.

He also puts up a strong challenge in the next, the McKell Cup with the best in the market for the stable being Yonkers ($6) the mount of Hugh Bowman, with solid Victorian form, but not the last chance with The Lord Mayor also big chance, although in this I do put on top of my tips the in form Bjorn Baker runner, Parry Sound ($5.50). Waller has a handy representative group in Race 8, but feel James Cummings will get the money here with the smart Katalin and in the last the stable holds the favourite here, NZ bred Wairere Falls ($4.40) but stablemate Criminal Code ($7.50) is also solid in the market.

By the way fellow Kiwi born Bjorn Baker is enjoying a big season. He sits in the Trainers Premiership with 100 winners and just under $6million.

Now for another Kiwi born James McDonald. The champion jockey sits third on the NSW Jockey Premiership behind Blaike McDougall and Tommy Berry on 137, but has the Sydney Premiership well and truly tied up. He rode four winners mid-week in Sydney and is on 117, 15 ahead of Tommy Berry and looking unbeatable. And like Waller he could have a field day with mounts like Cavalier Charles, My Compromise, Fastconi, Tycoonist, The Lord Mayor, Katalin and Criminal Code.

The Maher-Eustace yard, I see, have announced they have gained 40 boxes at Cranbourne as training facilities at Caulfield look set to close down in the not too distant future. Their main base, I am told, will be at Ballarat.

Tom Dabernig will have his stables at Warranambool.

And the latest sprinter named as a runner in the $15 Everest next sprint, is Gytrash picked up by slot holders Inglis late yesterday … thus making those runners confirmed Nature Strip, Masked Crusader, and John O'Shea's NZ bred Lost and Running. And I see that last year’s winner Classique Legend is back in work with Les Bridge after his Hong Kong jaunt and all going well he will take the slot of his owner Bon Ho. It is the early days in winter, but already interest is building around the big sprint with no moves yet made on the best sprinting two-year-olds of the season, but they are certain to come.

Now for Royal Ascot, with the track tonight being graced with the appearance of that incredible lady, Queen Elizabeth. The US trained sprinter Campanelle gained the Commonwealth Cup giving her trainer Wesley Ward his 12th win at the carnival, but the filly did it the hard way, winning the race in the stewards room after being second past the post to Dragon Symbol (Oisin Murphy). That young sprinter ran about madly in the last furlong and hit the line narrowly in front, but Frankie Dettori and the US sprinter won the race in the steward’s room. Said Dettori:"It is never nice to win in the steward’s room, but the stewards took the view that I was the unlucky runner." And said Wesley Ward: "Winning at Ascot, no matter what, is something special. This place has changed my life." Murphy was outed for four days but he does look as though he will take the title of top jockey over the five days with the last race at Ascot tonight.

Tom Marquand won the King Edward on Alemquer while Sandrine was supreme in the Albay, the second juvenile winner of the week for Andrew Balding and Johnny Murtagh gained his first Ascot winner as a trainer with Create Belief.

Looking at the card tonight..... Starman is the favourite for the Diamond Jubilee at 11-4 with Oisin Murphy to ride for Ed Walker and main rivals in the market, Dream of Dreams (Ryan Moore-Sir Michael Stoute), 7-2, Nahaar (Marquand), 9-2, and Art Power, 13-2.

Broome and Hukum dispute the early betting for the Hardwicke Stakes with Broome, 4-1 in cracking form this season while Hukum is a winner on the track. Creative Force (9-2), Mutasaabes, 5-1, and Naval Crown, 6-1 head the market for the Jersey Stakes.