Trainer Chris Waller assembling strong 3YO army

Chris Waller will be juggling stars across two states this weekend, with Via Sistina possibly clashing with Aelina in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, while a team of talented colts take centre stage in Sydney.

Among them, Golden Slipper placegetter Wodeton lines up in The Run To The Rose after a slashing second in the San Domenico Stakes. Blocked for a run late, he showed he had returned in excellent order. “As a two-year-old, (he raced) without much luck, so it was nice to see him come back like that,” Waller said. “We know he’s going to improve with a bit of distance.”

Also representing the stable is Beiwacht, who caught the eye with a third in the San Domenico after being caught wide. Barrier four this time gives him the chance to showcase his ability. “If he settles from a good draw, he could go there as well,” Waller said. “He’s a very nice horse. A professional horse. He’s a very good type and he is already a Group Two winner. He’s got a box left to tick and that’s a Group One.”

Hidden Achievement resumes in The Run To The Rose but will need luck from gate 16, while Sixties is instead bound for the Ming Dynasty Quality, where he’ll test himself against stablemate Autumn Boy. Perfect through his first preparation, Autumn Boy scored at Canterbury before landing a Listed Eagle Farm success and is being touted as a future classic contender. “He’s by The Autumn Sun and he got a mile easily, so it’s exciting,” Waller said. “We’d like to run him in the Golden Rose but Saturday will tell us more and then it would be nice to be running in a Caulfield Guineas.”