Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Miss Scandal leads throughout to land tough maiden victory
Chris Waller looked to have a strong hold on the opener, the 2-year-old Fillies Maiden at Canterbury, and it proved exactly that as Miss Scandal (NZ) (Home Affairs) clung on in a narrow finish to defeat her stablemate, the beautifully bred Satin Serenade (Frankel {GB}), handing the champion trainer the quinella.
Ridden positively by Tyler Schiller, Miss Scandal was sent straight to the front and controlled proceedings, with Extremely Chic (Extreme Choice) sitting outside in the same Glenn Ritchie colours as Miss Scandal, while the favourite Satin Serenade settled off them in a distant trailing position.
Turning for home, Schiller asked for an effort at the 300 metres and quickly put a margin on the field. It looked decisive, but Tim Clark lifted Satin Serenade late and charged hard at the leader. Miss Scandal, appearing to peak late, held on gamely to score by a nose, with Excelluna (Exceed And Excel) solid in third, just under three lengths from the runner-up.
Video: Watch Miss Scandal in Race 1 at Canterbury Park on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
The result marked Waller’s first winner by his former dual Group 1-winning sprinter Home Affairs.
“The second filly got a little bit lost on the corner there and the other filly skipped away,” said stable representative Darren Beadman.
“What I was taken with by the winner was the way that she was just able to control the race in front and not overdo it.
“What I was taken with by the winner was the way that she (Miss Scandal) was just able to control the race in front and not overdo it.” - Darren Beadman
“Probably the 1250 metres was going to be the question mark and when Tyler let slip a little bit early, I thought, 'Oh, she might be a little bit vulnerable,' which she was, so it was a deserving win because she did take up the running and made them all work for it.”
Darren Beadman | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Sales info: Miss Scandal was purchased for NZ$320,000 by Mulcaster Bloodstock Ltd and Chris Waller Racing from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Miss Scandal (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Pedigree info: Miss Scandal is out of the four-time winner Kylie’s Fame (More Than Ready), who is half-sister to Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel) who was a sharp 2-year-old winning the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong Classic and the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.
Kylie’s Fame’s dam Set For Fame (Reset) was also smart, winning the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes, G2 Caulfield Sprint Handicap, G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes and the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes.
Kylie’s Fame in recent years has left a yearling filly by Tarzino (NZ), a weanling colt by Tarzino, and was served by Hawaii Five Oh last spring.
The Machine Gun fires on debut with authority
A professional and polished debut saw the Peter Snowden-trained The Machine Gun (Stay Inside) salute impressively, becoming another first-crop winner for his sire, who now boasts eight winners, including three at stakes level.
There was early speed as Dominator (Snitzel) was urged forward by Tommy Berry to lead, with Another Lahar (Victor Ludorum {GB}) working across to sit outside.
Tim Clark settled The Machine Gun in a perfect one-one position, tracking into the race with the favourite Klocke (Zoustar) on his back.
Video: Watch The Machine Gun in Race 2 at Canterbury Park on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
At the 250 metres, Clark let him stride to the front and he quickly asserted. Klocke ran on solidly but had to settle for second, while Divine Offering (Written Tycoon) made ground along the inside for third, just under a length from the winner.
“He's pretty casual. I just wanted to build his revs up before they quickened, so he was up and traveling forward into the race, especially around here, and he did that,” said Tim Clark.
“He picked up nicely, but then thought the job was done at about 100 metres. When he felt the second horse coming, he really surged again late, so he's a nice horse.
“He (The Machine Gun) picked up nicely, but then thought the job was done at about 100 metres. When he felt the second horse coming, he really surged again late, so he's a nice horse.” - Tim Clark
“He's still obviously very raw and working it out, but he's got a nice future.
“He's always shown good promise. It's taken a while to get him there, but the best is well and truly ahead of him.”
Tim Clark | Image courtesy of Sportpix
It was an impressive debut that also highlighted the merit of runner-up Klocke, with both colts shaping as horses to follow later this season or into their 3-year-old campaigns.
Sales info: The Machine Gun was purchased for $300,000 by Jason Warren Racing, Trilogy Syndications and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
The Machine Gun as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: The Machine Gun is the first foal out of Don’Ttelltheboss (Street Boss {USA}) who was a four-time winner up to 1400 metres and who placed in the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes and the G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes.
This is the extended family of the Listed winner Elite Elle (Shamardal {USA}) and the stakes performers Classic Elle (Reset), Cancanelle (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Esroh (Perugino {USA}).
Don’Ttelltheboss, in recent years, has produced a yearling colt by Russian Revolution, a weanling colt by Ozzmosis and was served by Toronado (Ire) last spring.
Hello Captain dominates to continue rapid rise
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old gelding Hello Captain (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) continued his upward trajectory, making it three wins from just four starts with a dominant victory in the BM64 3YO Handicap over 1250 metres.
Carrying 62kg, Nash Rawiller was untroubled as the gelding travelled comfortably before producing a powerful finishing burst.
There was genuine tempo early, with Airworthy (Farnan) working across from a wide gate to lead, while Willingham (Justify {USA}) sat outside with no cover.
Video: Watch Hello Captain (NZ) in Race 3 at Canterbury Park on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
Rawiller had Hello Captain settled midfield before peeling wide at the top of the straight. Within strides, he surged to the lead and quickly put the race beyond doubt, scoring by just under two lengths from Events (Lonhro) and Three Arrows (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who narrowly missed making it a quinella for the sire. Interestingly, Hello Captain is the most expensive Southern Hemisphere-bred yearling sold at auction by Hello Youmzain (Fr).
“It was a lovely ride by Nash, he trusted the horse and gave him a nice cushy first half of the race and that showed late when he was able to let down, especially with the big weight,” said stable representative Darren Beadman.
“It was a lovely ride by Nash, he trusted the horse and gave him a nice cushy first half of the race and that showed late when he was able to let down, especially with the big weight.” - Darren Beadman
“Great for the Ritchie family. They've invested a lot of money in the game and it's good to see them with a double here today.”
Nash Rawiller believes the surface of Hello Captain has barely been scratched.
Nash Rawiller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It’s a tired and true way of Chris’ to gradually let them creep up to better company and that’s what he has done with this bloke,” Rawiller said.
“He’s got plenty of scope and this time next year he might be a force to be reckoned with I think.”
Sales info: Hello Captain was purchased for NZ$425,000 by Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Hello Captain (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Pedigree info: Hello Captain is one of four winners from five starters for Steer By The Stars (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), a juvenile winner who has produced the Listed Carnavon Stakes winner Never Back Down (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) before her journey south to New Zealand. Her current 2-year-old Persian Wonder (NZ) is a full brother to Hello Captain, and was second in the G3 TL Baillieu Stakes and fourth in the G3 Pago Pago Stakes earlier in the autumn.
A granddaughter of Listed victress and prolific producer Wild Planet (USA) (Nureyev {USA}), Steer By The Stars is a half-sister to the Listed winners Consort (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Her World (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}), as well as being closely related to G1 Spinster Stakes winner Aruna (USA) (Mr Greeley {USA}) and stakes-winning, Group 1-performed stallion Honoured Guest (Ire).
Steer By The Stars left a yearling filly by Farnan, who was purchased by Shijiazhuang Hongtao Horse Breeding for NZ$160,000 at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, sadly the mare died in 2025.
Ballpark goes all the way as Waller’s run continues
Ballpark (Zoustar) added further momentum to a big day for Chris Waller, going straight to the front under Tim Clark and never being headed in a decisive front-running display.
The 3-year-old gelding had shown mixed form since breaking his maiden at Kembla Grange in December, but relished the opportunity to roll freely around Canterbury, bringing up his second win at start six.
Video: Watch Ballpark in Race 4 at Canterbury Park on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
Helen’s Way (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) applied early pressure but faded, leaving Lipstick (Street Boss {USA}) and Wounder (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) to close from the back. Lipstick got within half a length, with Wounder another half-length away in third.
Ballpark, however, had done enough, controlling the race and fighting on strongly to reward his powerful ownership group.
Sales info: Ballpark was originally purchased by Jim Carey for $550,000 from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. He was then re-offered by Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy paid $800,000.
Ballpark as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Ballpark is the first foal out of the Group 3 winner Embrace Me (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), who comes from the family of the G1 New Zealand Derby winner Military Move (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), the dual Group 1-winner Catalan Opening (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) and the Listed winners Carbon Copy (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and Davinci (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
In recent years Embrace Me has left a Snitzel yearling colt, a Zoustar weanling colt and was served by Zoustar in late December last year.
