Chris Waller celebrated his induction into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame by landing the quinella in the Doomben Cup with Comin' Through and Egg Tart.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was the 82nd group 1 win of Waller's illustrious career and his third triumph in the Doomben Cup, having previously claimed the race with Metal Bender (2010) and Beaten Up (2013).
He saddled up five runners in the Brisbane feature and watched last year's Queensland Oaks winner, Egg Tart ($15), hit the front 300m out before jockey Michael Walker urged stablemate Comin' Through ($9) to the front, with Ambitious ($9.50) finishing third.
"He was second in the Doncaster, he's got the best form going round," Waller said of Comin' Through. "Coming out of the Queen Elizabeth behind Winx, he ran fifth behind four group 1 horses.
"Michael's given him a perfect ride today and that's the difference between winning these races and not winning.
"He was placed in the group 1 Randwick Guineas, but he was a very immature horse is the best way of putting it – everything was there but it just hadn't quite come together and he has taken a bit longer.
"What he's done this season has been brilliant for us if you take out last start, which was simply no one's fault. He just got caught very wide."
Waller had already enjoyed a winner at Flemington with Jaminzah on Saturday by the time the Doomben Cup rolled around, then he went on to win the race named in his honour at Rosehill with I Am Serious.
"It was a bit of a shaky start today. We had three or four seconds in Sydney, and we've had a winner in Melbourne, so we can pump the chest out proudly," Waller said.
Walker said Comin' Through was never comfortable during the run, despite his win.
"I wanted to go right forward. I know this bloke inside out, and he wouldn't go, so I ended up slotting in fourth, fifth, one off," Walker said.
"I was never confident in any part of the race. He was off the bit the whole way and he wouldn't travel.
"I ended up having to from the half-mile. I just gave him a hit and said 'go mate'.
"Credit goes to Chris and the team. They do a tremendous job and I'm just very thankful.
"He's pretty easy to ride for too, Chris, especially this horse. He gives me no instructions, he knows I know him inside out.
"It makes it much better when you have someone that you ride for and you get these big wins up. I could not be happier right now and pity I have to ride tomorrow."
