Just what does it mean to ‘improve’ a racehorse? We as members of the racing fraternity understand what improvement looks like, we can see it clearly almost each week as former gallopers from one stable pop up somewhere else under the care of a new stable and turn around their former rogue ways.
So just what is it that takes place in the transfer from trainer A to trainer B that can produce form reversals often outside market expectations?
Notwithstanding the fact that many transferred don’t find any change, some no doubt keep sliding backwards, it’s the Bobans of this world that require further investigation.
A transfer from the stables of Anthony Freedman sometime after last year’s spring carnival to the booming stables of Chris Waller has seen this four-year-old son of Bernardini cut a swathe through the ranks of so many others who, up until 12 months prior, he appeared limited beside.
This horse now stands on the brink of being a worthy contender for Horse of the Year, but still all we hear from the wily trainer is he looks to create a ‘happy’ horse, and he likes to give them time.
The logical conclusion to draw from this is that things were rushed at the stables of Anthony Freedman, and contentment of the horse was insufficient to get his best.
Yet we who follow the sport have to assume that alone couldn’t be true, as the Freedman name stands in rarefied company when it comes to this caper.
Time to fess up Mr Waller – more information please! How do you do it? All trainers will be searching to add a little Waller polish to their stables, if the knew what it was, because at the moment the yawning gap is equivalent to the winged keel.
Editor’s note: Boban was also gelded between runs for the Freedman and Waller stables.
balanced
Guest
I see, Justin. I'm newish to the site so still learning the protocols re editing. Cheers
Justin Cinque
Expert
Very good point Balanced but to be fair to the author it was the editor's note, not his, that mentioned the gelding of Boban. The operation is a key component in Boban's transformation which is why I'm assuming that editor's note was included.
balanced
Guest
Not for one moment am I suggesting Chris Waller is not an outstanding trainer and a nice human being to boot, but the improvement in Boban is not as mysterious as the writer is inferring. The writer even says at the end "note, Boban was gelded between ....Freedman and Waller". Boban is a Bernadini, and any trainer will tell you they are headstrong. If you remember, Boban as a 2yo won a black type race at the Brisbane carnival in impressive style, but next time out in the TJ Smith he took charge of the rider and finished last. I had a a bernardini yearling at home at the time so I followed him closely. He had obvious group level talent, but to use the vernacular, he was a head case. And for those too young to remember, Kingston Town ran 100 yards last at his first start, then after being gelded, he came back and was well nigh unbeatable. I'm not saying Freedman is a better trainer than Waller, or vice versa, but I'm simply saying that comparing an ungelded head case to a mature gelded animal is a pointless comparison.
kv joef
Roar Guru
Waller understands and uses the benchmark system to his advantage. the key to the system is to be able to correctly rate his horses from the beginning by measuring them against other proven stablemates. EG a BM90 horse doesn't have to in peak condition to win a BM75. the handicapper will only penalise 3/5 pts for a win. the skillful trainer improves his horse faster than the scale through fitness stringing together wins and placings. if there is a setback, no matter, the horse will hover around that lower mark and maybe next prep progress. The professionalism of this trainer is that his horses race honestly and therefore the handicapper adjusts to performance. Even when his horses reach group level he continues to select the 'right' races seldom over-matching his horses. EG how many trainers would have aimed Red Tracer for the Emirates? ... instead CW placed the horse against mares and won a plenty.
Drew H
Guest
Chris Waller, amazingly, didn't need to get over the hump to be successful. His growth seemed to be organic from day one. Perhaps Chris Waller jumped from the barriers in the same race as Jason Coyle. Chris set a good pace, and is still going strong.
danny
Guest
waller simply a better trainer in all facets of the game end of story