Beiwacht springs mini upset in G1 Memsie Stakes

MELBOURNE – Sydney’s multiple-champion trainer Chris Waller has commenced the racing season in a blaze of glory, capturing another Group 1 contest.

Australia’s leading trainer collected a record 22 wins at the top level in season 2025-26 and has won the first two Group 1 races for the new racing season.

After Autumn Glow took out the Winx Stakes (1,400m) at Randwick on Aug 22, Beiwacht led his rivals a merry romp in collecting the A$750,000 (S$685,000) Memsie Stakes (1,400m) at Caulfield on Aug 29.

Taken to the front by Nash Rawiller, Beiwacht ($28) scored a three-length win over Mr Brightside (Craig Williams) with the favourite Cosmic Crusader (William Pike) a short-neck away in third.

Beiwacht was one of five ‘boys’ Waller had in Saturday’s contest and the trainer said to see the Bivouac four-year-old resume off a break and win in the manner in which he did was particularly pleasing.

Beiwacht was scratched from the Winx Stakes last week with a raised temperature, but by the morning of Aug 24, the entire’s spring campaign was back on track.

“We didn’t panic,” said Waller. “It came up enough to say he didn’t need to leave the stable and remarkably his blood on Monday was perfect.

“We galloped him at Rosehill on Tuesday. He was fine on Wednesday, and everything has been good since, so whatever it was, it didn’t last long.”

Beiwacht is now the proud recipient of three Group 1 successes over the 1,400m journey, having previously annexed the Golden Rose in Rosehill last September and the All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick in April.

Waller said he would speak to the Godolphin group to determine plans, which could even entail international travel.

“We said last year we were keen to take him internationally, but he’s not a real straight horse,” said the Kiwi-born conditioner.

“He was out of his comfort zone in the Lightning Stakes, and it dented our confidence a little bit.

“He’s a specialist 1,400-metre type horse, so there are some international thoughts there.”

Waller said Beiwacht had fitted in well with his stable and for a four-year-old entire, he was well relaxed pre-race.

“Saddling him up before the race, he was a delight to work with,” said Waller.

“He was really focused. It sounds like I’m talking about a person, but he was really in the zone and just concentrating on his racing.

“We’ll find something. I’ll talk to the Godolphin team and I’m sure there will be some good races in store for him.”

Waller was vindicated for renewing his faith in Rawiller after the Sydney-based Victorian jockey hit the target at his first partnership with Beiwacht in the All Age Stakes.

“He’s always been a lovely colt, an entire as a four-year-old, but he’s gone to another level today, there’s no doubt about that,” said Rawiller who was at his first Memsie Stakes success.

“He’s always had that raw high cruising speed. He’s just matured, and it’s a special feeling, the whole straight, he just had them cold.”

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