WALLER GETS GUNS BACK TO WORK

Chris Waller sends his stars back to the track

Headlined by the likes of Everest winner Nature Strip and the 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant Waller has set his stall out early in 2022 giving all his gun runners an early hit out at the Rosehill track.

Waller also had the likes of Hungry Heart and Kolding in attendance as well as Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs and perhaps Australia’s most exciting filly Espiona during an exciting morning in Sydney’s west.

Verry Elleegant is the one the punters were looking towards though with the Melbourne Cup winner expected to be heading into her last Australian prep before potentially heading towards an attempt on the Prix de l‘Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France next September.

The mighty mare's usual trackwork rider Chris Harwood felt the ten time Group 1 winner had returned as good as ever.

“She has come back fantastic, hasn’t missed a beat and went around nice and relaxed,” he said.

Verry Elleegant is expected to start her final campaign in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes in February before heading to a final Queen Elizabeth tilt in April. 

Melbourne Cup winning jockey James McDonald rode rising star Espiona on Tuesday and was full of praise for the boom filly. 

“She is really good and had a beautiful nice, easy piece of work this morning,” McDonald said.

“As you can see, she is lovely and relaxed and enjoyed her piece of work.

“She feels great and it’s good to have her back.”

Espiona currently sits as a short price favourite to win the Surround Stakes next month after putting on a demolition job in the Listed Listed Desirable Stakes back in November.

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