Timing is everything on more than one front as Waller juggles racing’s issues and autumn expectations

In much the same way Chris Waller timed his run before weighing into a controversial plan to sell-off Rosehill, the champion trainer hopes to do the same in a bid to claim back-to-back Golden Slippers.

For one of the few times in a decorated training career, Waller made headlines away from the racetrack during the week.

He launched an impassioned plea in front of Australian Turf Club officials and members to save Rosehill from developers, arguing a sale would not be in Sydney racing’s best interest.

Waller had mostly kept silent on the Rosehill issue since its potential closure was announced two months ago.

He wanted to assess the lay of an extremely expensive piece of western Sydney land before making a comment that ultimately reverberated around the Australian racing industry.

A similar modus operandi will accompany Waller in the countdown to the $5 million Golden Slipper.

For most of the two-year-old season, Waller has been a bystander as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian unleashed a barrage of winners from Tulloch Lodge.

But in unbeaten Switzerland, Waller is training the colt to follow his 2023 Slipper winner Shinzo, and make the biggest statement of all at Rosehill on March 23.

Switzerland was among three high-profile winners for Waller across two states on Saturday with Fangirl brilliant in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick and his Victoria Derby hero Riff Rocket resuming to claim the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

Of the trio, it was the $1.5 million colt Switzerland who drew mixed reactions to his win in the Pierro Plate at Randwick on Saturday as an odds-on favourite.

Granted the margin wasn’t convincing but new jockey James McDonald made Switzerland do it the hard way – outside the previously undefeated Shangri La Express.

For Waller, it’s not about now. It’s about giving one of his major clients Coolmore more than enough Slipper ammunition to also go back-to-back in the world’s richest juvenile race.

Coolmore is also the majority owner of Tulloch Lodge’s Storm Boy, the Slipper favourite since winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.

“We’re still four or five weeks away from our grand final and I don’t dare want to know what’s there yet,” Waller said after Switzerland edged clear of Shangri La Express.

“I want to see it on Golden Slipper day. It’s early days. We’re just waking him up, he’s still a baby,” Waller said.

“The second horse is no slouch too, everyone knows how well Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian’s (Bott’s) two-year-olds are going at the moment.

“He made us work the last 100 metres, and the penny will start to drop now (for Switzerland) as we get deeper into our plans.”

Just as it seems Waller is starting to unveil his best juveniles, McDonald, too, will be a central figure in the lead-up to the Slipper.

Overseas trips and injury this season had contributed to lean pickings on the Australian two-year-old scene for the nation’s best jockey but that all changed when Coolmore struck its Storm Boy deal.

“We’re still four or five weeks away from our grand final and I don’t dare want to know what’s there yet” – Chris Waller on unbeaten colt Switzerland.

McDonald rode the colt for the first time in a spectacular barrier trial win during the week and he replaced Kerrin McEvoy on Switzerland on Saturday.

But with Ryan Moore almost certain to fly in for a Slipper ride, McDonald is unlikely to have the call. That will be left up to Coolmore.

Switzerland shows his class and overhauls a brave Shangri La Express in the @CoolmoreAus Pierro Plate!

The @cwallerracing colt is now 2 from 2 with @mcacajamez in the saddle for the first time.@TomMagnier pic.twitter.com/uHWlNYKqOT

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 17, 2024

Appropriately, given the name of his most important two-year-old winner of the season so far, McDonald kept a neutral stance on Saturday, saying Switzerland had to be ridden in an unfamiliar role.

“He was in foreign territory there being outside the leader, it wasn’t ideal,” McDonald said.

“But it adds another string to his bow.

“He feels extremely talented, and I just love how smooth he is. He takes everything in his stride, nothing really phases him.

“But he got away with that one ridden in a position where he’s never been before, so it was a good effort.”