Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
In today's Q & A, we feature a quick-fire round with Charlie Duckworth, assistant trainer at Chris Waller Racing.
Favourite moment - racing, sales or breeding related - for the 2022/23 season?
Charlie Duckworth: Francesco Guardi winning the Moonee Valley Gold Cup in excellent style. He was a yearling we purchased in the UK and had in training with James Ferguson and he has been nurtured all the way through to now being one of the favourites for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Which sire do you consider a value sire? Fee <$50k and not a first-season sire.
CD: Zousain, he really stamps his stock and was an excellent racehorse himself and obviously a much cheaper option than Zoustar!
What young sire (less than three crops) do you think will one day be Champion Sire?
CD: Home Affairs, a seriously talented racehorse, a pedigree to back him up and an absolute powerhouse of a horse. He is exactly what the Australian market loves. Speed, power and precociousness.
Which yearling purchase in 2023 are you most excited about?
CD: Sum Invictus (I Am Invincible x Apamurra), purchased for $450,000 by Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller Racing at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Torryburn Stud.
Sum Invictus as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
What, if any, is your greatest current-industry concern?
CD: Track times, not so much about the start times but more so the condensed hours in which all trainers have to work their horses. The industry actually has plenty of staff but due to a short window when the tracks are open you have to have way too many staff to get all the horses worked. Extend the track opening times and the staffing crisis will be instantly solved.
Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and say why?
CD: Not that he is really emerging as he has already had a wildly successful first season training but Jack Bruce will be champion trainer in Queensland within five years. He has a great mind and a passion for it.
A bit of pressure with this question as last time I was asked this by TTR I said Annabel Neasham…
Jack Bruce | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
If you had $10 million to invest in an industry initiative, what would it be and why?
CD: Buy Richmond TAFE and let Lindy Maurice continue with Thoroughbred Industry Careers out there and have it properly funded. Lindy was hugely underestimated I think and the staff that she created with her team is just unbelievable. Whatever Lindy touches will be a success, just look at the pony racing that she is running now!
