Waller and Neill: Two Smooth Kiwis, One Capital Tip

Chris Waller, with strong but not overwhelming Royal Randwick numbers on Saturday, plays suave in the same category as the recently departed Sam Neill.

Stardom never took the smooth edge off Neill despite the pressure of being the leading Sydney trainer, Waller maintains a similar tranquillity.

Both are New Zealanders although Neill had an Irish background that gave him the substance to compare with James Mason as one of screen’s smoothies. (refer “The Verdict” with Paul Newman).

The renowned Les Carlyon once tagged other New Zealanders Dave and Les O’Sullivan as “sainted” due to their style but they were never under Sydney turf blow-torch like Waller, who is producing astounding figures.

On Wednesday at Canterbury, he had four out of eight starts in one event but five out of six in another, winning both.

The new term, like recent seasons, presents the conundrum: can it continue? In 2025-26 he notched 183 winners for his 16^th premiership, $80,003,712 prizemoney, and six behind the record 189 (2017-18). The opposition, with the ever-expanding empire of Ciaron Maher, continues to be strong, but will it make any real impression?

Back in 2003 Gai Waterhouse became only the second trainer behind her father, Tommy Smith, to top 150 when making 153. Smith notched the record 156.

Smith was a master of the media, then 95 percent press, but Waller has to contend with much more hectic exposure: television, radio, digital streaming, podcasts and the like, with print, alas flagging.

Waller does not miss a sentence.

I have been fortunate to be up front and personal observing the greats in action: Smith and Bart Cummings at Randwick, as well as a bevy of the exceptional at the mile gap, going back to Jack Green, and Fred Allsop when Les Bridge looked more like a jazz drummer than a Hall Of Famer.

Interstate I witnessed at carnival times the expertise of Colin Hayes at Lindsay Park and Flemington, the Freedmans (Flemington), Bob Hoysted (Epsom) and George Hanlon driving a rattle trap truck, up hill and down dale, alongside his riders during workouts at his property near Geelong.

But I’ve missed Waller: the system of conditioning so many horses well, that hopefully will be seen to advantage with Angel Capital in the Missile Stakes at Randwick.

Angel Capital is a world class sprinter on his effort in last The Everest behind Ya Ying Rising, beaten just over two lengths. Joliestar was in the ruck with him adding merit to the performance considering the daylight deprived passage he had.

Navigated by James McDonald, the world’s best jockey, it was hardly the world’s best ride. Subsequently the now five-year-old stallion has only been placed albeit in top company. The last two under J-Mac received a “unlucky/good” and “badly held up” assessment from “Best Bets”.

Resuming after a spell on Saturday, with a Waller two easy barrier trial foundation, he takes on the potential of Ninja and Napoleonic plus the current form and fitness of Midnight Dynamite, under the improvement regime of another Kiwi, Bjorn Baker, roughhewn but slick enough to resemble a youthful Harrison Ford lookalike in a current television ad.

Angel Capital is my NAP, ill-fated with the initial Arapawa at Randwick last Saturday. Obviously a nerve nut Arapawa was beaten before leaving the enclosure and examined by the vet at the barrier. The gelding started despite the anguish of supporters at his appearance.

Anyway, if you are seeking a top best bet consider the Daily Telegraph’s Clinton Payne who I named when we worked on “Racing To the Max” around 20 years ago as the “hope of the side”.

Still I am keen on Angel Capital at yesterday’s $2.60. “Best Bets” listed him as “excellent in the autumn – minus luck”. I rate luck as a bad ride, the historic assessment of Athol Mulley on Bernborough in the 1946 Caulfield Cup.

The Athol Mulley Trophy will be presented to last season’s leading apprentice the highly talented Sienna Grima.

Surprisingly Mulley was never the top apprentice but he, with Peter Cook was, in my time, the most perfectly balanced jockey who blended so well with a mount. Mulley was art form more naturally gifted than his arch rival George Moore but lacking the focus and dedication of “cotton fingers”.

Mulley and Moore clashed physically in the Randwick jockey’s room. A telling blow was not landed. Stewards grilled Moore on the reason for the bout. “He questioned my breeding?” Moore alleged. Mulley laughed. Can you imagine J-Mac and Tom Berry sparring currently?

Mulley was not jovial though about Bernborough in the controversial Caulfield Cup. Wise guys who saw Bernborough and Phar Lap reckoned Bernborough was superior. Before attendance of 108,000, after 15 consecutive wins, Bernborough carried 68kg. and started around Saturday’s Angel Capital odds but struck trouble in the straight in a capacity field and was beaten four lengths. The money invested on Bernborough rivals, according to folklore, were on a contract to hinder the favourite.

Nobody mentioned “bad luck”. Trainer Harry Plant blamed Mulley, the inference being the jockey “held” Bernborough. Mulley maintained he sacked Bernborough, the pressure was too great, not vice vera.

Mulley maintained Plant was dirty on him over this because at his next start, for another jockey, the champ broke down. I believed Mulley. I liked him. Athol George was a character even if unpolished.