Waller breaks another training record

[Wandering Eyes]

Consistent mare So Wicked (NZ) (Street Cry) has brought up a significant milestone for trainer Chris Waller.

The Kiwi expat has broken his own record for number of wins in a season with So Wicked’s Randwick victory bettering the mark of 339 Waller set in the 2018-19 season.

The champion trainer went into Saturday on 338-1/2 wins and only had to wait until the third race to topple his personal best.

So Wicked was his 168th Sydney metropolitan success of the season and Waller said it was a team effort, especially against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the city.

“I’m really proud of my team and that’s what makes it all worthwhile,” Waller said.

“Through the COVID period, it hasn’t been an easy street and what these guys do for me, day in, day out, I just shake my head.

“It’s a lot of wins, a lot of city wins. We concentrate on city races more, we don’t run in the country and we’re proud of where we’re at.”

So Wicked is by Street Cry, the same sire as Waller’s retired champion Winx.

The David Paykel bred and raced mare will never reach the heights of Winx but her victory in Saturday’s ATC Thanks Frontline Workers Handicap (1800m) was her fifth this season and seventh in total following a brace of wins in her native New Zealand, where she was initllay prepared by Stephen Marsh.

So Wicked ($5.50) pulled away from her rivals late to score by 2-3/4 lengths over Margie Bee (Dreamscape) with My Demetra (Camelot) best of the rest in third. 

Jockey James McDonald said So Wicked had been well placed since travelling across the Tasman and was able to capitalise on the fitness levels she had built over the winter.

The gifted rider will again finish the season as Sydney’s leading jockey but humbly deflected any praise, instead saying it was a matter of being lucky enough to get on the right horses.

“I’ve obviously been associated with some fantastic racehorses which helps, and it’s a snowball effect,” McDonald said.

“The more winners you ride, it carries on.” McDonald captured his fifth Sydney jockeys’ title this season and his third in succession.

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