Becoming just the third trainer to record 200 individual G1 winners, joining the great Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings, Chris Waller saddled up three runners in Saturday’s $1m G1 BRC Doomben Cup (2000m), with Birdman (IRE) recording a facile victory for connections.
Jumping the favourite off his narrow second behind Pride Of Jenni last time out in the G2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast, the James McDonald ridden Birman settled with just two behind him as Ciaron Maher’s multiple G1-winning mare went many lengths in front.
With Pride Of Jenni 12 lengths clear approaching the 700m mark, none of the remaining six jockeys had started to make a move, and the questions were clearly starting to be raised… who would make the first move…could the leader be caught…will she run out a strong 2000m?
One of the first to make a move approaching the 600m mark was Chris Waller’s last start Listed Gosford Cup winner Asterix (NZ) before McDonald asked Birdman for an effort as he came four-wide to chase the mare.
It was clear Pride Of Jenni was on tired legs as she galloped past the 200m pole, and it wasn’t long before Birdman ‘flew’ past to pull clear and win by just shy of two and three-quarter lengths.
Pride Of Jenni, gallant as always, finished in second, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Vauban (Fr) doing his best work late to come from last to finish third.
“The man behind the operation, he is just an absolute master and it's a privilege to be part of his team,” McDonald said post race.
“How he 'preps' these horses is incredible, and he deserves all the accolades he gets and all the records he breaks, because he's a one of a generation sort of trainer and we're lucky to be in his bubble.
Surprisingly having not beaten Pride Of Jenni all the often, Waller was pleased to get a victory over the mare.
“He was peaking today. Obviously, we want to win the race and take it the right way, but I said, ‘ride him to run second. If Pride Of Jenni fails, we’ll win the race, but don’t take her on at the 800m because we won’t win,’” he said.
“Pride Of Jenni, we were all worried about her. She was the talking point and that’s what sells racing. Well done to Tony (Ottobre, owner), Ciaron (Maher, trainer) and his team.
“It’s a shame she wasn’t right there. I don’t beat her very often. She’s beaten Via Sistina, she’s beaten Fangirl, she’s beaten a lot of our better horses, and she’s been my nightmare.”
Waller was quite emotional when paying tribute to Birdman's late owner and his close friend, Mark Timms, who sadly died in March.
“We lost a good friend, Mark Timms, six weeks ago. He was in the horse, and his wife Leah is here today. He was a beautiful man, so it's a pretty touching win,” Waller said.
“I wish Timms was here, it's as simple as that.”
When speaking about his achievement of 200 G1 winners, Waller highlighted his team.
“With Tommy Smith, I was embarrassed to be around him; I used to be in awe of him,” Waller said.
“And Bart, I had a good relationship with him, and he was an amazing man.
“I think what I’ve done is show that anything is possible. I’ve got a good team and respect that team.
“Anything is possible when you’ve got confidence and good horses.”
With six wins and five placed efforts from 22 starts with earnings of $1,785,072, the Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc-bred Birdman is the lone stakes winner amongst three winners for the Acclamation mare Carol, from the extended family of Champion Filly Snow Fairy (Intikhab), a winner of six individual G1 races.
Birdman is the lone G1 winner amongst 16 international stakes performers for the High Chaparral stallion Free Eagle (IRE), who shuttled to South Australia’s Cornerstone Stud for three seasons where he covered 171 mares.
A winner of the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Free Eagle now stands at Ireland’s Anngrove Stud.
