IT’S Russian Roulette for punters who back heavily-backed or easing favorites from the powerful Chris Waller stable on a regular basis.
Punters who bet in Sydney deserve what they get. The mainstream media will continue to promote the big race success of Waller and James McDonald and continue to overlook their failings in bread and butter races.
Take last Saturday at Rosehill Gardens for example. Waller didn’t train a winner and McDonald didn’t ride one either – a rare event – but it sent the poor old punters who bet on Sydney racing and follow the top pair religiously – home broke.
The rot set in when Jmac rejected rides on five Waller-trained horses to partner Columbus, plunged into odds-on in the third. The ‘budding champion’, according to the ‘experts’, finished an inglorious fifth with his wheels spinning.
In the fourth Waller saddled up Velaris, with Tommy Berry aboard. It ran favorite but finished out of the placings. But it was Race Five when the stable’s heaviest backed favorite Enviable ran a woeful last when resuming that was the dowside of the day.
Waller and McDonald teamed again in the seventh with the plunged Tarzing and it could do no better than sixth. If that wasn’t enough punishment the punters lined up on Cigar Flick in the ninth and it beat two home. Stewards queried the ride of star apprentice Siena Grima on unwanted stablemate Althoff which ran second and should have won.
Little wonder the corporates love Waller – despite his record-breaking premiership wins and Group race dominance with some outstanding gallopers. But with over 600 (that’s a conservative estimate) in work, why wouldn’t he be successful? Having said that, a strike rate of one in 14 isn’t that good when it comes to punting.
Right on cue the ‘punter’s pal’ bobs up with a winner in the last at Doomben – the despised $41 outsider Noble Conqueror – to blow most out of the Quadrella. The seven-year-old was resuming off a quiet trial.
HERE’S how the Stewards handled a day to forget for the Sydney punters:
COLUMBUS: James McDonald reported that after settling in a prominent position, the gelding travelled satisfactorily. He said, however, that when placed under pressure on straightening, Columbus did not quicken as expected and raced greenly, particularly when in restricted room to the inside of John Dory, which hung in. He added that Columbus may benefit from the addition of blinkers.
ENVIABLE: When questioned, James McDonald stated that he was able to obtain a prominent position outside the leader, Ticklebelly, through the early and middle stages where the mare travelled well. He said that from the 600m to the 400m Enviable improved into the race and he was confident it would close the race off strongly. He said, however, that soon after straightening when placed under full pressure the mare’s action deteriorated noticeably and it commenced to lay out. He added that when Enviable gave ground to be out of contention, he eased it down over the concluding stages. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any obvious abnormalities. Trainer Waller advised that Enviable had pleased the stable in its preparation and undertook to report back on the mare’s post-race condition. He was advised that Enviable would require a veterinary clearance before barrier trialling to the satisfaction of the Stewards.
TARZING: James McDonald reported that the gelding laboured under pressure in the home straight and laid in. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Stewards will follow up on the post-race condition of Tarzing.
CIGAR FLICK: Soon after the start was steadied when crowded between Althoff and Justadeel, which shifted out slightly. James McDonald reported after settling off midfield, he elected to save ground rounding the home turn to pursue runs towards the inside as Cigar Flick has been questionable running out 1300m. He added that Cigar Flick found it difficult to make ground in the straight and was one paced.
THERE was little more the stipes could have done (perhaps order Tarzing to trial before racing again). Unfortunately, this happens far too often with favorites from the Waller stable which makes punting on his horses in Sydney a nightmare without mentioning when he has multiple runners in races.
