Waller Poised to Extend Premiership Lead

At Sydney's Royal Randwick on Saturday, the $1 million Gr1 George Main Stakes headlines a card bursting with elite thoroughbreds, none more so than in the Gr2 The Shorts (1100m) which is a veritable dress rehearsal for next month's $15 million The Everest (1200m). It's a day where trainer Chris Waller could crack his five hundredth stakes winner as he continues to lead all-comers in the Black Type Premiership. Having captured the title by a big margin in 2020-21, Waller is on 63 points for the new season, and enters Saturday's turnstiles armed to the teeth to be an even bigger leader by the close of play. His chances include Atishu in the Gr3 Bill Ritchie (1400m), She's All Class in the Gr2 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), Kolding, Star of The Seas, Verry Elleegant and Hungry Heart in the Gr1 George Main Stakes (1600m), Nature Strip in the Gr2 The Shorts (1100m) and another quartet (Selino, Kukeracha, Shared Ambition and Dashing Willoughby in the Gr3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m). Meanwhile, at Caulfield, Waller will also be represented by Morioka in the Gr2 TG Prelude (1400m) and Cape Breton in the Gr3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

Nature Strip is favoured for The Shorts (pic: Steve Hart)