Written by Richard Edmunds
It was a special Saturday for champion trainer Chris Waller, who won four Group 1 races including a thrilling win by Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the TAB Epsom H. at Randwick.
Waller began his Randwick rampage with a victory by Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA} in the G3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate, then added the Gow Gates H. with Dealmaker (Dundeel {NZ}), the G1 Darley Flight S. with Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}), the G2 Sky Racing Active Hill S. with Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}). After Kolding’s win in the Epsom, he topped the day off in the G1 Heineken 3 Metropolitan H. with Come Play With Me (Blackfriars).
Meanwhile at Flemington, Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) and Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}) fought out the finish in a Waller quinella in the TAB Turnbull S., and Haut Brion Her (Zoustar) won the G2 Blazer S.
“It’s been a magnificent day,” Waller said. “We have a massive team behind us and they put everything into these horses. Whether it be a maiden at Moe or Kembla or wherever it may be. Having multiple runners in these big races. No stone is left unturned. I’ll be emotional from time to time for my team.
“It is a pretty special day and it has been shared around.”
“It is a pretty special day and it has been shared around.” - Chris Waller
Jockey James McDonald teamed up with Waller for Global Quest, Dealmaker, Funstar and Verry Elleegant’s wins, but allies turned to adversaries in the Epsom as he took the ride on highly rated Kiwi raider Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Kolding was ridden by Glen Boss, reuniting the trainer-jockey partnership that brought up Waller’s first Group 1 win with Triple Honour in the 2008 Doncaster.
Glen Boss returning to scale
“It all started with Triple Honour,” Waller said. “That gave me the confidence to be where I am now. Bossy did a great job that day. It has been an amazing ride since.
” Boss did a great job again in Saturday’s Epsom, stalking the front-running Archedemus (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) before going for gold at the top of the straight.
Renowned late-finisher Te Akau Shark soon loomed ominously down the outside, answering the call when McDonald asked him to let loose.
He stormed up alongside Kolding, but Neville Morgan’s horse refused to lie down. He matched every desperate lunge by Te Akau Shark and held on to beat him by a nose in a heart-stopping finish.
Kolding (NZ) and Te Akau Shark
“You always have plans, there is A, B and C, but it’s just about trusting the animal really,” Boss said. “He was very good. When he got clear he loafed, and when Te Akau Shark came up to him he surged. Another furlong and he wouldn’t have been beaten.”
For Boss, the win vindicated his decision to return to Australia after riding in Singapore.
“There’s real fears coming back to Sydney, when you are trying to break back into what is probably the hardest market in the world,” he said. “I wondered if I was making the right decision, but it just felt right, it felt good for me, and when you are getting the support of Chris Waller, and riding his horses with light weights, that’s a big start obviously.”
The winning connections of Kolding (NZ)
Kolding, who was bought for $170,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, has now won seven of his 14 starts and more than $1 million in stakes.
“It was a lovely race for him,” Waller said. “These Randwick miles are races people talk about and owners want to win. Being such a big race, big field, there are so many chances. We’ve been lucky to come out in front a few times. It’s a great spectacle.”
Kolding became the first Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park (NZ), following close placings at the elite level by Mongolianconqueror (NZ), Another Dollar (NZ) and Arrogant (NZ).
Ocean Park also sired the third placegetter in the Epsom, the Waller-trained Star of the Seas (NZ).
Te Akau Shark gallant in defeat
McDonald was pleased with the performance of Te Akau Shark, who lost few admirers in his gallant defeat.
“Huge run, very proud of his effort,” he said. “I thought he was the winner for sure. I still can’t believe he got beat. He felt brilliant and tried very hard, great effort.”
