Racing
Waller can complete Sydney Group 1 set in the Canterbury Stakes
Chris Waller has trained the winners of every Group 1 race in Sydney – with the notable exception of the Canterbury Stakes.
But at Royal Randwick on Saturday, the Hall of Fame trainer can rectify that anomaly to his extraordinary training record with a trio of outstanding sprinters, Joliestar, Lady Shenandoah and Beiwacht clashing in the Group 1 $750,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
"Joliestar is probably our top seed, she just does everything right,'' Waller said.
"Lady Shenandoah wasn't far off Joliestar last start and gets the chance to turn the tables.
"Beiwacht needs to improve but 1300m will suit him better and he's a very exciting colt when he's at his best.''
Waller, who has trained 187 Group 1 winners, has a strong entry for the Randwick meeting including classy Autumn Boy, the $2.50 favourite for the Group 1 $1 million Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Autumn Boy, impressive winner of the Caulfield Guineas last spring, ran third to Ninja when resuming in the Hobartville Stakes last month.
"Autumn Boy was beaten first-up but I wouldn't read too much into that,'' Waller said.
"It was 1400m and horses struggled to make up ground from back in the field that day.
"His run was a pass mark but he will jump out of the ground stepping up to a Randwick mile.''
The last to achieve the feat was Autumn Boy's sire, The Autumn Sun in 2018-19. Weekend Hussler also won both races in 2007-08.
Waller also saddles up potentially his best Golden Slipper chance with Hidrix to contest the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m).
Hidrix won the Canonbury Stakes impressively on debut then ran third to Stretan Ruler and Eviction Notice in the Silver Slipper with that trio set to clash again in the Todman Stakes.
