Waller has deep teams in the Metropolitan and Epsom, where he could have a number of horses fighting out the finishes. There have been months of planning the different pathways he has used to get his stayers to their top in the Metropolitan.
“I think the backup horses should be respected. First Light was very good winning the Colin Stephen [Stakes] last Saturday and Unusual Legacy is ready for the 2400m now. I think he raced like that last weekend but the run [at 1900m] has really bought him on,” Waller said.
Chris Waller-trained Unusual Legacy has been backed into favourite for the MetropolitanCredit: Getty Images
“Etna Rossa was strong winning the Newcastle Cup a couple of weeks back, and he has those overseas bloodlines and grounding. The Metrop is not a race you can get too fancy with, it a good tough handicap, and you need a good tough horse for it.”
Waller takes a strong hand into the Epsom with seven runners. Kovalica is at the pointy end of the market.
He made the decision to keep Kovalica in Sydney, scratching him from the Underwood Stakes a couple of weeks back, and he will look to go one better than a fast-finishing runner-up to Rediener last year.
“Once you make those decisions you move on and Kovalica is ready to run very well on Saturday,” Waller said. “Rediener was just a bit good for him last year, but I think he is going better now.
‘It sounds silly but the 20 or so group 1 runners are actually the same as a normal Saturday for us.’
Master trainer Chris Waller
“The Epsom is a race where horses can emerge pretty quickly. Three of our winners have come from winning the Bill Ritchie and McHale is ready to step off his win there.”
Waller saved a special mention for Firestorm, the outsider of his team. The $26 chance that has won both his starts this preparation and was too strong for Metropolitan favourite Unusual Legacy last week.
“I always had confidence Firestorm was going to improve as a four-year-old, and she is reminding me a bit of Boban,” Waller said. “She came into the spring as a moderate horse and won four in a row including an Epsom and the group 1 mile at Flemington.
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“Fitness is the key to run in these big miles she brings that Brisbane preparation in with her.”
Waller could complete his group 1 day with a sixth Turnbull Stakes as Via Sistina and Buckaroo look for their second group 1 wins for the season.
“I think Buckaroo went to a new level in the Underwood and Joao Moreira stays with him and it will be interesting if he can maintain that level,” Waller said.
“Via Sistina raced a bit flat second-up, and it is not easy getting mares back after a flat run, but hopefully it was more a [wet] ground issue than a flat run.”
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