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Waller follows tried and tested formula

The Chris Waller-prepared gelding Kapakiri has proven too strong at Royal Randwick

Trainer : CHRIS WALLER.
Trainer : CHRIS WALLER. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

It's a strategy that champion trainer Chris Waller  has employed for many years and it proved successful once more when Kapakiri ($3.20F) saluted in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap over 2000m.

Having boxes based on the Gold Coast gives Waller the opportunity to transfer horses that aren't competing up to Sydney metropolitan grade and provide them with as easier task to help get them back onto the winner's list. 

The son of Kermadec had been thereabouts in recent midweek and provincial races in New South Wales before Waller set him for two races at Eagle Farm and the Sunshine Coast, both proving fruitful.

The four-year-old gelding has bounced out of those victories and returned to Sydney a Saturday metropolitan winner. He pulled away from a much-improved Dreamflight ($41) by a length and a quarter with Rogue Bear ($12) a long neck back in third position. 

Waller was pleased to see the turnaround in form up north and that his galloper could reproduce it back in Sydney. 

"He's always shown us ability and then we sent him up to Queensland and they've done a great job with turning his confidence levels around," Waller said. 

"He came into the race with some good Queensland form and he justified it with a really good win.

"It's easier up there and they get a winning feeling." 

Despite being his first race ride on Kapakiri, rider Tommy Berry knew he was on a winning hope as soon as he legged up. After serving a lengthy suspension earlier in the year, Berry has started to hit his straps of late. 

"This bloke as soon as I cantered him down to the start I thought what a lovely horse," Berry said. 

"He's a beautiful big boy with a lovely stride and that tempo today really aided him. Off that he'll be able to get over much further. 

"I don't have to tell you how good he (Waller) is, we all know. So you just get a lot of confidence when you're riding for him and good to get another one for him today."


Racing and Sports



Randwick Saturday, 16th December 2023

1m1f207y TURF GOOD
AUD $160,000

TOYOTA FORKLIFTS HANDICAP

AUD $160,000
Age: 3yo and up Type: BM78
1m1f207y TURF GOOD
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 10. KAPAKIRI (AUS) 4yo G
KERMADEC (NZ) - ORIENTAL LADY (GER)
TOMMY BERRY
CHRIS WALLER
$3.2
54kg
N Morgan & C J Waller
2nd 1. DREAMFLIGHT (GB) 4yo G
FRANKEL (GB) - DREAM PEACE (IRE)
RACHEL KING
BJORN BAKER
$41
61.5kg
G L Grimish & Mrs M Grimish

Sales Information

3rd 4. ROGUE BEAR (IRE) 5yo G
KODIAC (GB) - RANCHO MONTOYA (IRE)
DYLAN GIBBONS
KRIS LEES
$12
60.5kg
Australian Bloodstock (Mgr: L G Murrell), Rogue Bear (Mgr: J Lovett), D Nebauer, A I Grant-Taylor, J W Woodbridge, Miss J Kachel, Mrs P Woodbridge, R R Ryan, A G Smith, P J Broe, P A Rapone, N B Whatmore, ESC Racing, M J Cassar, M P Barker, S P Madden, S Catania, P Liascos & K R Rowbotham

Sales Information

4th 11. LYRICAL GANGSTER (NZ) 4yo G
PROISIR (AUS) - DREAM RUN (NZ)
KERRIN MCEVOY
CHRIS WALLER
$5.5
53kg
5th 6. IOWA (IRE) 5yo G
GALILEO (IRE) - BRIDAL DANCE (IRE)
JASON COLLETT
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$6
59.5kg

Sales Information

6th 3. CABOCHE (NZ) 5yo G
VADAMOS (FR) - FLORAMOUR (AUS)
SAM CLIPPERTON
CHRIS WALLER
$17
60.5kg

Sales Information

7th 8. CRUZ MISSILE (NZ) 4yo G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - CRUZ CONTROL (NZ)
JETT STANLEY
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$31
54.5kg

Sales Information

8th 2. TOESONTHENOSE (NZ) 5yo G
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - PEAK PERFORMER (AUS)
NASH RAWILLER
J G SARGENT
$4
61kg

Sales Information

9th 9. PHILIPSBURG (NZ) 6yo G
PER INCANTO (USA) - SAINT MARTINS (NZ)
TOM SHERRY
JAMES PONSONBY
$16
54kg

Sales Information

10th 5. SECRET GLAMOUR (AUS) 5yo M
SEBRING (AUS) - PALACE WHISPERS (AUS)
GAVIN RYAN
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$41
59.5kg

Sales Information

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