2 hours ago
1
Craig Kerry
April 16, 2026 — 5:00pm
Champion trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald look set to complete an autumn streak of group 1 success in Sydney on Saturday with chances in the final two elite races of the carnival at Randwick.
However, arguably their most interesting runner will come in the group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) with West Australian addition Jokers Grin.
The five-year-old, a winner nine times across 13 West Australian starts for Bernie Miller, is set to have his run start for Waller after two trials at Randwick and was a $3.10 (TAB) favourite from the outside gate.
Waller had pinpointed the group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 2 as a kick-off point for Jokers Grin but said his focus changed when last year’s $5 million Quokka winner showed he was ahead of schedule.
“He’s settled in really well and we haven’t put any pressure on him,” Waller said.
“We intended to go to Queensland for that group 2 race in two weeks, but he’s come up a bit quicker than I thought, which is good.
“Obviously, we know he’s got very good form, so we haven’t asked him to do anything, so he hasn’t disappointed us, he’s only pleased us.
“We know he’s a very good horse, his draw isn’t very good, but his owners were quick to point out that he has actually run some very good races from wide draws.
“He’s sort of a get-back horse, so I will have a good look at the form in the race and if we think he’s a genuine winning chance, a top-three chance, we’ll run in it. If we think it needs to have two weeks based on the set-up of the race, we might wait two weeks.
“I think he could get to a race like the Doomben 10,000 and the Kingsford-Smith Cup. They are my two target races and then, hopefully, he’s done enough to show he’s getting ready for the balance of the spring.”
Waller and McDonald have tasted group 1 success together in Sydney the past seven Saturdays, winning 10 in total, starting with Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant Stakes on February 28. Victory in the All Aged Stakes with Angel Capital ($4.80) or Champagne Stakes with Campione D’Italia ($2.60) will complete a streak taking in all eight group 1 days of the carnival.
Stallion prospect Angel Capital is chasing an overdue group 1, while Campione D’Italia is after a second following his Sires’ Produce Stakes win two weeks ago.
“I think 1400m will suit and if this weather holds, that will suit as well,” Waller said of Angel Capital.
“His run in the Newmarket was good, his run last start was brilliant and he’s ready for 1400.
“Campione has come through his run well and Fireball is good. They can be in the top three again.”
Waller also has Beiwacht, Lazzura, Fangirl and Kovalica in the All Aged, and Fireball and Diameter in the Champagne.
