Chris Waller pressing for fourth G1 JJ Atkins Stakes win

Posted by RS NewsWire at 7:59pm on June 4th

The Brisbane carnival is in full effect and trainer Chris Waller will be hoping to post a fourth victory in the $1 million JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm next weekend.

He has tasted success in the Group One feature with The Autumn Sun in 2018, Press Statement in 2015 and Pressday in 2010 and the champion conditioner has assembled another crack team of two-year-olds to add to his ever-growing stakes tally.

His Dundeel colt Tannhauser heads into the race following a fast-finishing Randwick victory last Saturday and Waller sees some comparisons to another juvenile of his that came good at the backend of this year’s Sydney autumn carnival.

“His win the other day was something special and he’s settled in well and he’s thriving,” Waller said.

“There’s a bit of (dual-Group One winner) Militarize about him, he’s got his confidence and gone to a whole new level.

“He went into his win at Randwick last week with a bit of confidence because we were seeing good things at home. Obviously, luck in running is a big thing but he showed last start he can come from the back and James (Mcdonald) will ride him.”

Waller will also saddle up his colt Chrysaor who has spent the majority of time at his Queensland operation. The son of Better Than Ready has had all but one of six runs to date up north and Waller believes the 1600m will be to his liking.

“He’s come through the Sires Produce run (3rd) really well, he didn’t have any luck at all,” Waller lamented.

“I don’t think the mile will be a problem, just tossing up whether he needs the blinkers as he was a touch aggressive last start.

“We’ll make that decision Tuesday morning, Nash (Rawiller) is going up to ride him and he’ll be on him on Saturday.

“He’s ready to run a mile once we tinker with his gear. He’s a genuine top-three chance and could easily win the race.”

Waller isn’t ruling out running his colt Congregation either on the back of a narrow victory at Rosehill yesterday. The Snitzel progeny showed great tenacity to hold off stablemate Tutta La Vita in a stirring finish over 1300m and may replicate his winner of the JJ Atkins in 2015.

“We might consider it, we’ll talk with Coolmore early next week,” Waller said.

“We did the same thing with Press Statement, he won this race and went up seven days later.

“It’s not easy but he’s a very good horse and we’ll give it serious consideration.”

All three Waller runners are well in the All-In betting markets with Tannhauser equal favourite at $6 and Chrysaor and Congregation not far behind at the $8 quote.

More Racing News

Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing

Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...

May 15th

Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar

Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...

May 15th

Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford

Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...

May 15th

Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight

Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...

May 15th

Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return

Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...

May 15th

Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move

Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...

May 14th

Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen

While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...

May 14th

Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances

At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...

May 14th

Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup

Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...

May 14th

Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes

Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...

May 14th