Racing
Waller giving McDonald his chance to set Group 1 riding record
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller is playing a significant role in champion jockey James McDonald's bid to set a record for most Group 1 wins during the Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Slipper Day boasts five Group 1 races – the most of any race meeting in the southern hemisphere – and McDonald is riding for Waller in each of the majors.McDonald need two Group 1 wins to break Damien Oliver's all-time record for an Australian-based jockey of 129 Group 1 wins.
"This Saturday at Rosehill is setting up to be an exceptional day with James McDonald and his record-breaking Group 1 challenges,'' Waller said.
"He has some great rides, some good rides for us as well. It would be great for the sport to witness something with a jockey so young, so professional and it would be amazing story if it could be achieved.''
At Rosehill trackwork on Wednesday morning where Waller had his outstanding mares Autumn Glow and Aeliana work on the course proper just before dawn, the trainer was asked what makes McDonald so good as a jockey.
Autumn Glow at trackwork (18-3-26) in the lead up to the George Ryder Stakes on Golden Slipper Day.
"James is great to work with, he is very professional, and he lives for the sport,'' Waller said."He's an all-round athlete, he works on his fitness, he works on the mental side of it to stay sharp and strong, and to deal with the day-to-day challenges he has as a father, as a sportsman and an elite athlete.''
Waller will be hoping McDonald brings those traits to Slipper Day where the pair have leading chances in all the Group 1 races including Autumn Glow in the $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Remarkably, both Waller and McDonald agree that racing has not seen the very best of Autumn Glow just yet.
"Autumn Glow is ready to peak so I think we are going to see something special,'' Waller said.
"Have we seen her get to (her) highest level? I don't think we have but all horses have a ceiling so we are mindful of that.
"But we keep putting challenges in front of her and she keeps taking that next step. She is the pride and joy of Rosehill at the moment.''
Waller revealed the Ryder result will tell him where Autumn Glow races next when the carnival caravan moves to Royal Randwick for The Championships.
"Where we go to with Autumn Glow from here is still undecided,'' he said.
"Of course, we want to keep her winning, we want her to be seen in the best light, but we also want her to take on new challenges as well.
"We are not afraid to try her over 2000m (Queen Elizabeth Stakes) at some stage, we are not afraid to try her under a big weight (56.5kg) in the Doncaster Mile, and there are other options as well.
"Saturday will be a lot clearer for us to make those decisions. Each run will tell a story as to how far she will go.''
Autumn Glow's winning streak is already prompting inevitable comparisons with Waller's all-time great, Winx, who closed out her career with 33 consecutive wins including a world record of 25 Group 1 wins.
Waller didn't want to compare the two mares but he said the experience with Winx has helped him to cope and manage the burden of expectation that comes with training an unbeaten superstar like Autumn Glow.
"We have learned not to panic,'' Waller revealed.
"With Winx, we did, we were stressed and we were under pressure like we had never been under before but learned to deal with it as we went along.
"There is no 'script book' that comes with those good horses but that (Winx experience) has made it a little easier with Autumn Glow.
"But similarities? The only similarity is they keep on winning and they keep doing things effortlessly.
"The difference with Winx and Autumn Glow is that Winx did it for so many years.
"We are gradually finding things out about Autumn Glow with every run, but what a great horse and it is great to see Australian racing with another big name.''
Autumn Glow and Aeliana weren't asked to do too much at Rosehill trackwork this morning as they have done the bulk of their work ahead of Saturday.
Aeliana at trackwork (18-3-26) in the lead up to the Ranvet Stakes on 2026 Golden Slipper Day.
Aeliana is McDonald's mount in the $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) with the mare a dominant $1.70 favourite.
"Aeliana is on the under-card but she could headline the day as she is ready to peak,'' Waller said.
"It has been well-known she has been an immature horse that is now flourishing and furnishing into a more mature mare.
"She has been placed behind Autumn Glow at her first two runs this preparation and last spring she was narrow defeated by Via Sistina.
"With Via Sistina now retired, it is Aeliana's time to shine as she is not racing against Autumn Glow.
"There are five Group 1 races on Saturday and Aeliana, I think, is close to our best chance!"
In the $5 million TAB Golden Slipper (1200m), Waller and McDonald join forces with Fireball, winner of two of his three starts including the Inglis Millennium.
Fireball has been the best-backed Golden Slipper runner since the barrier draw where he was allocated gate 7. The colt has firmed from $26 to $16.
"Fireball is a very relaxed horse but the blinkers help keep them a little more focussed and can often give them a little more aggression because they are not worried about what is happening to their left or right,'' Waller said.
"You can't put blinkers on every horse as they can over-race but this colt has a great attitude, he's well-bred by Snitzel and we looking forward to Saturday.''
Waller and McDonald also combine with Autumn Boy in the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Generosity in the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m).
"I'm looking forward to getting Autumn Boy up to 2000m,'' Waller said.
"His dad, The Autumn Sun, won this race (Rosehill Guineas) so from a breeding perspective he should be fine.
"When he is not winning, he is running very well, he's an impressive colt.
"He's already a Caulfield Guineas winner and I'm looking forward to his chance to add another one in the Rosehill Guineas.''
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| Autumn Glow at trackwork (18-3-26) in the lead up to the George Ryder Stakes on Golden Slipper Day. |
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