In a moment that seemed almost inevitable for the all-conquering Chris Waller, the master trainer etched his name into Australian racing history by becoming just the third person to achieve 200 Group 1 victories. The milestone was reached when Birdman swooped to claim Brisbane’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Eagle Farm.
A Race of Two Halves
The Doomben Cup was widely anticipated as a showdown between Pride Of Jenni ($3.60) and the rest of the field. True to form, the powerhouse mare surged to a massive mid-race lead of 15 lengths by the time the field reached the halfway mark. However, the chasing pack gradually closed the gap, and jockey James McDonald steered Birdman ($3.50 favourite) to the outside approaching the turn, swiftly moving into second place. With just 120 metres remaining, Birdman claimed the front and powered away from Pride Of Jenni, who fought gamely to hold second place but finished more than two and a half lengths behind.
Waller Joins Legends
Chris Waller joined legendary trainers Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings in the exclusive 200 club, with Smith and Cummings tied for the most Group 1 triumphs at 246. Reflecting on his achievement, Waller said, “With Tommy Smith, I was embarrassed to be around him; I used to be in awe of him. And Bart, I had a good relationship with him, and he was an amazing man. I think what I’ve done is show that anything is possible. I’ve got a good team and respect that team.”
An Emotional Victory
Forgoing his personal achievement, Waller became emotional when speaking about one of the part-owners of the Free Eagle five-year-old, who had recently passed away. “I lost a good friend, Mark Timms, six weeks ago. He was in the horse, and his wife Les is here today. He was a beautiful man, so it was a pretty touching win. I wish Timmsy was here, simple as that,” Waller said.
Strategic Mastery
Birdman had finished second in the conventional lead-up race, the Hollindale Stakes (1800m), when chasing home Pride Of Jenni two weeks earlier. Knowing she was the one to beat, Waller devised a plan to counter the fearless front-runner. “He was peaking today. Obviously, we want to win the race and take it the right way, but I said, ‘ride him to run second. If Pride Of Jenni fails, we’ll win the race, but don’t take her on at the 800m because we won’t win,’” Waller explained. “Pride Of Jenni, we were all worried about her. She was the talking point and that’s what sells racing. Well done to Tony (Ottobre, owner), Ciaron (Maher, trainer) and his team. It’s a shame she wasn’t right there. I don’t beat her very often. She’s beaten Via Sistina, she’s beaten Fangirl, she’s beaten a lot of our better horses, and she’s been my nightmare.”
McDonald’s Praise
James McDonald, who recently became the winningest Group 1 jockey in Australian racing history when riding Waller’s Panova in the Australasian Oaks, lavished praise on the supreme conditioner. “He’s just an absolute master and it’s a privilege to be part of his team. How he preps his horses is just incredible. He deserves all the records he breaks and the accolades he gets because he’s a one of a generation trainer and we’re lucky to be in his bubble,” McDonald said.
A Bright Future
McDonald predicted an even bigger future for Birdman, saying the bay gelding will be a force later this year in even more recognised races. “Today, over that distance, he switched off and showed an incredible turn of foot. He’s a very good horse and you’ll see him win plenty more Group 1s down the east coast,” he added.
