Waller weighs wide barrier for Jokers Grin in Randwick feature

Chris Waller is torn due to a poor barrier draw on whether to start Jokers Grin in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick or follow the original itinerary straight to Queensland.

The one-time Perth short-course specialist was last seen running fifth in November's Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and is scheduled to make his debut for the new team in the Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) this Saturday, marking the end of the autumn series.

Waller plans to assess if barrier 11 poses too much of a hindrance before locking in the runner, keeping in mind that the five-year-old gelding has handled wide gates well before, such as in last season's The Quokka (1200m) and Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) held at Ascot.

"His draw isn't very good, but his owners were quick to point out he has run some really good races from wide draws, and he is a 'get-back' horse," Waller said.

"I'll have a good look at the field and the race, and if we think he's a genuine winning chance or top three chance, we'll be running him.

"If I think he needs another two weeks based on the set up of the race, we might wait two weeks. But at this stage he's running."

Jokers Grin was not initially planned for the Sydney autumn fixtures, with the gelding set for Brisbane-only duties.

A northern excursion is still very much planned, honing in on the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) scheduled for May 16 and the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm two weeks subsequently.

"We intended to go to Queensland with him for a Group Two race in two weeks' time, but he has come up a bit quicker than I thought, which is good," Waller said.

"I think he can get to a race like the Doomben 10,000 and Kingsford Smith. They're my two target races, and then hopefully he's done enough to show he can get ready for the good ones in the spring."

According to Waller, Jokers Grin has taken to his fresh base smoothly, without being overly tested in his trial heats.

The leading conditioner finds reassurance in the gelding's work relative to barnmate Generosity, who trailed him home third in the Quokka before claiming the Challenge Stakes (1000m) and placing a valiant fifth in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m).

"It's good form. Even Generosity has form around him too, and she has come over and franked that form," Waller said.

Past triumphs with Western Australian imports include Come Play With Me's 2019 Metropolitan (2400m) success and Arcadia Queen's Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) win, leading to her 2019 The Everest (1200m) invitation.

Find competitive betting markets for the race ahead of Jokers Grin in the Hall Mark Stakes.