Chris Waller

There was as much drama at the start of the G1 King's Stand S. as there was a lack of it at the end, where Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and James McDonald emerged triumphant for Australia in a show of power to remind Royal Ascot what it had been missing. With the 15-8 favourite Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) blowing his chance at the start and Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) losing his rider there, the Australian maestro's biggest concern was the presence of the latter as he joined him...

The veteran stallions Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) each sired a new Group 2 winner Down Under at Eagle Farm on Saturday. First to strike was Irish Sequel (Ire), formerly known as Bashiyr (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Northern Hemisphere, for trainer Chris Waller. Waller is currently in the UK overseeing the preparation of crack sprinters Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) for their Royal Ascot bids. The gelding, the 70th group winner for his sire, clawed his way...

Chris Waller, trainer of Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) and Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}), two of the fastest horses in the world, provided an upbeat bulletin on his Royal Ascot hopefuls after they had their first experience of the track on Friday morning. Home Affairs is on course to run in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. while Nature Strip is a leading fancy for the G1 King's Stand S. for Waller, who will forever be remembered for his handling of Australian legend Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire})...

After Thursday's announcement that G1 Melbourne Cup heroine Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) would be trained in the Northern Hemisphere by Francis-Henri Graffard, the original ownership in the star mare have announced that they will sell their 20% stake. "We're not happy and we will be looking to sell out of the mare unfortunately," co-owner Nick Bishara told Racing.com on Friday morning. "The Ellee syndicate was never in favour of going to Europe, basically on the back of what Chris [Waller] felt--that she's probably got one more prep in her...

G1 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) will join Francis Graffard in France with a view towards targeting the major races in Europe this season, the connections of the Australian ace have announced. An 11-time Group 1 winner, Verry Elleegant has netted her connections over £8 million and was described by Chris Waller, the man who managed her glittering career in Australia, as an "honour" to be associated with. The statement from the ownership group was released on Thursday, and it read, "Being part of a champion racehorse...

Champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), who had been under consideration for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, will instead target the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. over 12 furlongs at Ascot on Oct. 15. The 2021 Australian Horse of the Year and 11-time Group 1 winner won the G1 Melbourne Cup in style at Flemington last November, and added the G1 Chipping Norton S. at Randwick two starts later on Feb. 26. She was then second in the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill in...

Entries from nine countries appear on course for the eight Group 1 races at Royal Ascot, headlined by the world's three highest-rated sprinters: Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) (Australia, 124), Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (USA, 121) and Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) (Australia, 120). The Australian pair--who may face Golden Pal in the G1 King's Stand S. or contest the G1 Platinum Jubilee S.--are joined by fellow Australian invader Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) (Anthony & Sam Freedman), set to run on the final day of the meeting....

Instead of contesting the Apr. 2 G1 T J Smith S. over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick, dual Group 1 winner Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus})), will be freshened for a Northern Hemisphere campaign with his sights set on Royal Ascot, according to a tweet by Chris Waller Racing. A winner of the G2 Silver Slipper S. and third in the G2 Todman S. for trainer Chris Waller, Coolmore, Wynaus, Et. Al as a juvenile, the bay progressed at three to take the G1 Coolmore Stud S. on...

A bid of A$1 million (€629,637) for Funstar (Aus) (Adelaide {Ire}) opened the action at the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale on Friday. Funstar is a half-sister to G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and is out of a three-quarter sister to the triple Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). Unbeaten as a 2-year-old, Funstar won five of her 18 starts for trainer Chris Waller, including victory in the G1 Flight S. and wins in the G2 Tea Rose S. and G2 Phar Lap...

Chris Waller snapped up the golden ticket into next Saturday's G1 Golden Slipper S. with Shaquero (Aus) (Shalaa {Ire}) after his victory at Rosehill. The Waller-trained Shaquero was successful in the G3 Bowermans Commercial Furniture Pago Pago S. Shaquero won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast in January and in one subsequent appearance since a break had finished sixth in the G2 Skyline S. Improved for that outing, he settled in the trail and once into the clear 200 meters off the post he accelerated...

Goffs on Thursday staged the first-ever bloodstock auction in England or Ireland conducted exclusively online, and the result was largely positive in the midst of the country's second national lockdown. With the Goffs team auctioning virtually in an empty ring at Kildare Paddocks, 86 horses in training were offered, with the clearance rate of 72% for 62 sold matching last year's figure. Turnover, similarly, was up 3% to €1,019,800 despite fewer offered and sold, and the average climbed 24% to €16,448. The median was down 22% at €7,000. The top...

Racing has been fortunate to forge ahead in 2020 without crowds, but it is imperative that they return as soon as possible. That was one of the overriding themes of the third panel of the virtual International Conference of Horseracing Authorities released on Monday and entitled "Participating and working in racing during a global pandemic." Moderator Rishi Persad spoke with trainers Charlie Appleby, Chris Waller and Ger Lyons as well as jockeys Hollie Doyle and Zac Purton about the experience of being a racing professional in 2020. "When the country...