Chris Waller

Globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will skip next week's G1 Melbourne Cup and instead target the G1 Champions Stakes during the Australian autumn, Yulong's Sam Fairgray revealed on Wednesday. A title defence of the G1 Cox Plate is also in the offing for next October. Originally a 5,000gns Tattersalls December yearling purchase, the bay would go on to take the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes before changing hands for 2,700,000gns at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Now racing for Yusheng Zhang's Yulong in Australia,...

Three-time Group 1 winner Militarize (Aus) (Dundeel {NZ}) has been retired from stud duties at Newgate Stud following low fertility, according to published reports. He is set to be gelded and will return to trainer Chris Waller. Militarize completed the G1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes-Champagne Stakes double before returning at three to claim the G1 Golden Rose. The son of Dundeel raced previously for Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Trilogy, Newgate S F, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock Australia, Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe...

Chris Waller's star mare Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) had a scare at Tuesday's Breakfast With The Stars when her bandage came unravelled and she tripped, dislodging jockey James McDonald. Both horse and rider were fine, although Via Sistina galloped several laps before being caught. "We'll accept for Saturday and use all that time, right up until Saturday morning, to make sure everyone is happy," Waller told racenet.com.au about Saturday's G1 Cox Plate. "The horse is 100% first and foremost, we'll go beyond that, take bloods, make sure the...

by Keely Mckitterick/TTR AusNZ Friday's inquiry into the proposed sale of Rosehill Racecourse evolved into a battleground where financial realities, governance controversies, and deeply personal accusations clashed in a high-stakes showdown. At the center of this unfolding drama is Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing NSW, who launched explosive allegations that "wealthy breeders" are orchestrating a campaign to undermine him. During the second inquiry on Friday, Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing NSW, made a series of explosive allegations about "wealthy breeders" engaging in a deliberate campaign to discredit him and Racing...

Zhijun Zhao secured Group 1-winning sprinter Espiona (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}) for A$4.15 million (€2,490,512) at a standalone virtual sale held by Magic Millions on Wednesday. Arrowfield Stud was the underbidder. Trained by Chris Waller for Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds, Espiona won seven of her 24 starts and earned over A$3.3 million in prize-money during her illustrious career, with her biggest success coming in 2023 when she defeated the multiple Group 1 heroine Pride Of Jenni (Aus) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) by a nose to win the G1 Coolmore Classic...

Australian Group 1 winner Espiona (Aus) will be offered by agent Glenesk Thoroughbreds in a standalone virtual sale set to be held by Magic Millions at 3pm (AEST) on Wednesday, July 31. Trained by Chris Waller for Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds, Espiona won seven of her 24 starts and earned over A$3.3 million in prize-money during her illustrious career, with her biggest success coming in 2023 when she defeated the multiple Group 1 heroine Pride Of Jenni (Aus) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) by a nose to win the G1 Coolmore...

John Stewart's Resolute Racing continued its world-wide buying spree in Australia Thursday when going to A$3.2 million to acquire multiple Group 1-placed Tutta La Vita (Aus) (The Autumn Sun {Aus}) (hip 87) at the Inglis Chairman's Sale. The 3-year-old filly, the second-highest priced lot at the sale, had been campaigned by Kevin and Vikki Payne, who purchased her for A$300,000 as a yearling in 2022. She will continue to be trained by Chris Waller. "We are really excited about buying Tutta La Vita," Stewart said. "We met Chris Waller when...

While Saturday ushers in the new turf season in Britain, there are almost as many European horses nominated to run at Rosehill in Sydney that same day.  In the G1 Ranvet S., six of the seven runners were bred in either Britain, Ireland or France, and they include two seven-figure purchases made by Yulong Investments last December.  Group 1-winning mares Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was bought for 2.7 million gns at Tattersalls, and Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a €4.025 million Arqana purchase, are...

Ryan Moore, number one jockey for Coolmore in the Northern Hemisphere, has been booked to ride exciting Justify colt Storm Boy (Aus) in the upcoming G1 Golden Slipper on Mar. 23, Coolmore Australia announced on X early Thursday morning. Fellow unbeaten Coolmore-owned colt Switzerland (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), a winner of the G2 Todman S. on Mar. 9, will be the mount of James McDonald. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Storm Boy rattled off victories at Rosehill on debut in early December, followed by the G3 BJ McLachlan S....

The 2021 Australasian Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) has passed away due to foaling complications, announced Chris Waller via X on Sunday evening. The 11-time Group 1 winner tallied the 2021 G1 Melbourne Cup to a venerable career and had been sent to France to race for conditioner Francis-Henri Graffard. After four winless outings in the Northern Hemisphere in 2022, including appearances in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet, G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, and her final jump in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies &...

Europe's champion rider Ryan Moore will reunite with Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) for the G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill Sept. 23. The announcement was made after James McDonald, aboard for a pair of group wins earlier this season, sustained a fracture in his left foot that will require a four-week hiatus. "Shinzo is a high profile colt, he is a Golden Slipper winner [Mar. 18] and Ryan knows the horse as well as anyone," Coolmore's Tom Magnier told Racenet. Magnier and Moore watched Shinzo's exhibition gallop alongside...

Multiple Group 1 winner Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}--Strikeline {Aus}, by Desert Sun {GB}), who is best known in the Northern Hemisphere as the winner of the 2022 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, has been retired, trainer Chris Waller announced on Saturday. The 9-year-old gelding finished sixth in the G3 Concorde S. at Royal Randwick earlier in the day. Several of his owners, including Ron Lyons, were at the track when Waller made the announcement. "I'm announcing Nature Strip's retirement on behalf of the owners... It's only fitting...