Waller’s five boys all set for Memsie bid

MELBOURNE – Champion trainer Chris Waller will rely on five males in his bid to claim a second Group 1 win of the season.

Waller took out the opening Group 1 race of the season, the Winx Stakes (1,400m) at Randwick on Aug 22 relying on predominantly a team of mares while in the A$750,000 (S$681,000) Memsie Stakes (1,400m) at Caulfield on Aug 29, he will have three entires and two geldings contest the race.

Two of the five – Angel Capital and Birdman – ventured to Caulfield on the morning of Aug 25 to gallop on a track softened by overnight rain while Beiwacht, who was scratched from the Winx Stakes with an elevated temperature, galloped and was given the thumbs-up by Waller to take his place. Buckaroo and Autumn Boy will join that trio.

With James McDonald coming over to Melbourne to ride at the Memsie Stakes meeting, the champion Sydney jockey is booked to ride Autumn Boy, an entire by the same sire as Winx Stakes winner Autumn Glow, The Autumn Sun.

Waller said Angel Capital was a Group 1 winner in waiting and the Harry Angel five-year-old horse had come on nicely for his return run in Sydney when third in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1,200m) at Randwick on Aug 8.

“It’s only bad luck that is holding him back from being a multiple Group 1 winner,” said the 16-time Sydney champion trainer who has booked Ben Melham for the assignment on the five-time winner.

“He’ll get his chance on Saturday, but I am a little bit concerned about the track. His better form is on better tracks, but the beauty of Caulfield is it does dry very well.

“The 1,400 metres is a good distance for him, and he normally runs well at Caulfield.

“He’s come on well and if anything, better than I thought. He’s held his weight as he’s a mature colt now.”

Waller was also pleased with Birdman’s prep since he landed the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2,000m) at his last start on May 23 when ridden by McDonald.

Melbourne Cup-winning rider Jye McNeil rode the Irish-bred six-year-old gelding by Free Eagle in the Aug 25 hit-out but will switch to Buckaroo in the race.

“Birdman, Jye McNeil was aboard, and he said he felt great, had a good attitude,” said Waller who has engaged Beau Mertens as Birdman’s Memsie rider.

“He found good form down here in the autumn and he carried it right through to Brisbane, winning the Doomben Cup.

“He resumes ahead of a good preparation, we hope.”

Buckaroo, who finished a first-up third in the Memsie Stakes in 2025, will be kept to shorter trips this campaign.

After finishing second to Via Sistina in the Cox Plate, the Fastnet Rock gelding went on to run last in the Melbourne Cup, and while he returned in the autumn, was spelled after two starts.

The five-time winner, who races in the same Ozzie Kheir colours as Birdman, has had three trials to prepare for his return.

“He won a jump-out at Flemington to give him some bragging rights last week and he’s come through that well,” said Waller.

“We will target shorter races with him this prep. He does hold an entry for the Caulfield Cup, but I think we will stick to 1,800 metres, might stretch him to 2,000 metres, but he has come back with plenty of enthusiasm.”

Waller said Autumn Boy, also scratched from the Winx last week, would remain in Melbourne following Saturday’s outing.

“He’s a stallion, a multiple Group 1 winner, and we’re keen to get him to a Cox Plate,” said Waller.

“There’s lots of options down here and once he gets out to 1,600, 1,800, 2,000 metres, he will be a horse to be reckoned with.”

Waller said Beiwacht was given the all-clear by his vets after the four-year-old entire by Bivouac was scratched from the Winx.

“His blood profile was back to normal yesterday and the vets allowed us to gallop him this morning, and he galloped well,” said Waller who has booked his Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1,400m) winning partner Nash Rawiller for the Memsie ride.

“He has come through the work well, and we will accept with him on Wednesday.” SKY RACING WORLD