Trainer Chris Waller set a new record for metropolitan wins in a season by an Australian trainer–a mark he set three years ago at 167 1/2–when saddling three winners at Sydney's final metropolitan meeting of the term at Rosehill on Saturday.
After being shut out in the first two races in which he had runners, Waller struck in the fourth, a benchmark 85, with the 4-year-old mare Harlem Lady (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). He took the sixth, a 1400-metre plate race, with Pioneering (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) and made it a double in the next race, the Listed Restricted Winter Challenge, with Marenostro (NZ) (Duelled {Aus}).
“We're very proud of [the record],” Waller told Racenet. “Our staff are just doing a fantastic job 52 weeks of the year. It's the last Saturday of the season today, but they'll be there tirelessly tomorrow and they'll be there Monday for the start of the new season. So I'm proud for them and obviously proud of the support we get. It's a big thing. We're all here every Saturday doing our best, as all the other trainers are, and the competition is so great in Sydney.”
Pioneering was ridden by Hugh Bowman, the regular rider of Waller's stable star Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), and he told Racing and Sports, “I'm part of a team and my job is to ride the horses. I'm thankful for the opportunities I get from Chris. It's been my best season ever even though I didn't win the premiership. Obviously Winx has been the headline act for both of us and I'm privileged to ride her.”
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