Chris Waller (born 5 March 1973), is a Hall of Fame trainer in Australian

Thoroughbred racing Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

best known for training the racemare Winx, a four-time winner of Australian Horse of the Year honours.

Background

Chris Waller grew up on his parents' dairy farm in Himatangi, near

Palmerston North Palmerston North (; , colloquially known as Palmerston or Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatū Plains, the city is near the north bank of the Manaw ...

. He became interested in racing watching horses such as

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is an annual Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia, at the Flemington Racecourse. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and older, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club that forms part of the ...

winner

Kiwi Kiwi most commonly refers to: * Kiwi (bird), a flightless bird native to New Zealand * Kiwi (nickname), an informal name for New Zealanders * Kiwifruit, an edible hairy fruit with many seeds * Kiwi dollar or New Zealand dollar, a unit of curren ...

and jockeys such as Jimmy Cassidy. Waller worked for Foxton-based horse trainer, Patrick ("Paddy") Busuttin who was known for his top stayer Castletown. He progressed to stable foreman and when Busuttin moved to Singapore, Waller commenced training on his own account. His first winner was Go Morgan at

Trentham Racecourse Trentham Racecourse is the main thoroughbred horse racecourse for the Wellington city area in New Zealand. It is located in the suburb of Trentham, New Zealand, Trentham in Upper Hutt, next to Trentham Military Camp. The races are conducted by t ...

in 1997. On 12 February 2000, he won the Group 3 Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui with Ripon By, for the Dawn Fox's syndicate.

Party Belle

In 1998, Waller took a horse called Party Belle to New South Wales to race. She won three races in Australia, a 2100m maiden at Wyong in September 1998 (ridden by

Opie Bosson Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson (born 24 July 1980) is a jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. Riding career Bosson started as an apprentice for Stephen Autridge, his godfather. He began his race-day riding career as a 15 year old on 25 Oc ...

), followed by a Class 1 and a Class 2 at Kembla Grange before attempting but failing in a listed race at Randwick. Party Belle then raced in New Zealand unsuccessfully before Waller took her back to Sydney the following winter when, she won three more races in May 1999 at Randwick and Warwick Farm, ridden by Larry Cassidy.

Training in Australia

Waller applied for and obtained 20 horse boxes at Rosehill and commenced training there in 2000. Initially he had limited funds but he built his training operation up over time. His first Group 1 winner came in April 2008 when he won the

Doncaster Handicap The Doncaster Mile, registered as the Doncaster Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred handicap race for horses three years old and older, held over 1,600 metres at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia. Although the ra ...

with Triple Honour (NZ). He extended his operation with stables at Flemington, the Gold Coast and Warwick Farm. On 24 April 2021, Chris brought up 125 Group 1 victories when

Kolding Kolding () is a Denmark, Danish seaport city located at the head of Kolding Fjord in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the seat of Kolding Municipality. It is a transportation, commercial, and manufacturing centre and has numerous industria ...

won the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. On 2 November 2021 Waller won his first

with his horse Verry Elleegant.

Group 1 Winners (180)

* All Aged Stakes (2) - Danleigh (2009);

(2021) * Australian Cup (1) - Preferment (2016) *

Australian Derby The Australian Derby is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights held at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April, during the Autumn ATC Championships Carnival. The race is considered to b ...

(2) - Riff Rocket (2024); Aeliana (2025) *

Australasian Oaks The Australasian Oaks, is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at Set Weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide, Australia in the SAJC Autumn Carnival. ...

(2) - Egg Tart (2017); Toffee Tongue (2020) *

Australian Oaks The Australian Oaks is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. The Aus ...

(4) - Royal Descent (2013); Unforgotten (2018); Verry Elleegant (2019); Hungry Heart (2021) *

Cantala Stakes The VRC Champions Mile, registered as the ''Cantala Stakes'', is a Group One, Group 1 Victoria Racing Club quality handicap Thoroughbred horse race run over 1,600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the fourth and last day du ...

(4) - Albert The Fat (2011); Boban (2013); Shillelagh (2017); Yulong Prince (2020) *

Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under Handicap (horse racing), handicap conditions. This is for all horses aged three years old and older. It takes place over a distance of 2400 met ...

(2) - Verry Elleegant (2020); Durston (2022) * Caulfield Guineas (3) - Press Statement (2015);

The Autumn Sun The Autumn Sun (foaled 2 September 2015) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active Horse breeding#Terminology, sire trained and bred in Australia. He won five Group One races and over three million dollars. Racing career The Autumn Sun wa ...

(2018); Private Life (2024) * Caulfield Stakes (1) - Winx (2016) * Champagne Stakes (1) - Militarize (2023) * Champions Stakes (2) - Atishu (2023); Via Sistina (2024) * Chipping Norton Stakes (11) - Danleigh (2011); Shoot Out (2012); Shoot Out (2013); Boban (2014); Winx (2016); Winx (2017); Winx (2018); Winx (2019); Verry Elleegant (2021); Verry Elleegant (2022); Via Sistina (2025) *

Coolmore Classic The Coolmore Classic, registered as the TAD Kennedy Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards under set weights conditions, run over a distance of 1500 metres at Roseh ...

(3) - Espiona (2023); Zougotcha (2024); Lady Shenandoah (2025) * Coolmore Stud Stakes (6) - Zoustar (2013); Brazen Beau (2014); Japonisme (2015); September Run (2020);

Home Affairs An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a Ministry (government department), government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law e ...

(2021); Switzerland (2024) *

Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racin ...

(5) - Winx (2015); Winx (2016); Winx (2017); Winx (2018); Via Sistina (2024) * Darley Classic (3) - Delectation (2015); Nature Strip (2019); Nature Strip (2021) *

(6) - Triple Honour (2008); Rangirangdoo (2010); Sacred Falls (2013); Sacred Falls (2014); Kermadec (2015); Winx (2016) *

Doomben 10,000 The Doomben 10,000 is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred Weight for Age horse race, run over a distance of 1200 metres at Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. Total prize money is A$ ...

(1) - Boban (2015) * Doomben Cup (3) - Metal Bender (2010); Beaten Up (2013); Comin' Through (2018) * Empire Rose Stakes (3) - Red Tracer (2013); Shillelagh (2018); Atishu (2024) * Epsom Handicap (5) - Boban (2013); He's Your Man (2014); Winx (2015);

(2019); Rediener (2023) * Flight Stakes (3) - Funstar (2019); Zougotcha (2022); Lady Shenandoah (2024) * The Galaxy (2) - Shellscrape (2010); Nature Strip (2019) * George Main Stakes (9) - Shoot Out (2012); Sacred Falls (2014); Kermadec (2015); Winx (2016); Winx (2017); Winx (2018);

(2020); Verry Elleegant (2021); Fangirl (2023) * George Ryder Stakes (7) - Danleigh (2010); Rangirangdoo (2011); Metal Bender (2012); Winx (2016); Winx (2017); Winx (2018); Winx (2019) * Golden Rose Stakes (3) - Zoustar (2013);

(2018); Militarize (2023) * Golden Slipper (1) -

Shinzo ''Shinzo'', known as in Japan, is a Japanese anime television series produced by TV Asahi, Toei Advertising, and Toei Animation. It was directed by Tetsuo Imazawa, with Mayori Sekijima handling series scripts, Sachiko Kamimura designing the ...

(2023) * J. J. Atkins (3) - Pressday (2010); Press Statement (2015);

(2018) * Kingsford-Smith Cup (1) - Joliestar (2025) *

King's Stand Stakes The King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King's Stand Stakes) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 fu ...

(1) - Nature Strip (2022) * Kingston Town Classic (1) - Moriarty (2014) * Lightning Stakes (2) - Nature Strip (2021);

(2022) * Makybe Diva Stakes (1) - Foreteller (2013) *

Manikato Stakes The Manikato Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Austr ...

(1) - Danleigh (2009) *

(1) - Verry Elleegant (2021) * Memsie Stakes (1) - Boban (2015) * The Metropolitan (6) - The Verminator (2011); Opinion (2014); Patrick Erin (2018); Come Play With Me (2019); No Compromise (2022); Land Legend (2024) * Moir Stakes (1) - Nature Strip (2019) *

Newmarket Handicap The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group One, Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carn ...

(2) - Brazen Beau (2015); Joliestar (2025) * Queen Elizabeth Stakes (6) - My Kingdom of Fife (2011); Reliable Man (2013); Winx (2017); Winx (2018); Winx (2019); Via Sistina (2025) * Queen of the Turf Stakes (4) - Foxwedge (2017); Atishu (2023); Zougotcha (2024); Fangirl (2025) * Queensland Derby (3) - Hawkspur (2013); Kukeracha (2021); Kovalica (2023) * Queensland Oaks (3) - Winx (2015); Egg Tart (2017); Youngstar (2018) * Railway Stakes (1) - Good Project (2015) *

Randwick Guineas The Randwick Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March as a part of the Sydney Autumn Carnival. ...

(1) -

(2018) *

Ranvet Stakes The Ranvet Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of 2,000 metres, held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March. Total prize money is A$ ...

(4) - Foreteller (2013), Verry Elleegant (2021), Via Sistina (2024), Via Sistina (2025) *

Rosehill Guineas The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia annually in March. Total prize money for t ...

(4) - D'Argento (2018);

(2019); Lindermann (2023), Riff Rocket (2024) * Sires' Produce Stakes (1) - Militarize (2023) * Spring Champion Stakes (1) - Vanbrugh (2015) * Surround Stakes (2) - Hinged (2022); Lady Shenandoah (2025) *

Sydney Cup The Sydney Cup is an Australian Turf Club Group One, Group 1 Thoroughbred handicap horse race, for horses three years old and older, run over 3200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in the autumn during the ATC Championships series ...

(5) - Stand to Gain (2011) ; Grand Marshal (2015); Who Shot Thebarman (2018); Shraaoh (2019); Selino (2021) * Tancred Stakes - (2) Preferment (2016); Verry Elleegant (2020) * Tattersall's Tiara (2) - Red Tracer (2013); Invincibella (2019) * Thousand Guineas (3) - Amicus (2014); Madame Pommery (2022); Joliestar (2023) * TJ Smith Stakes (3) - Nature Strip (2020); Nature Strip (2021); Nature Strip (2022) *

Turnbull Stakes The Turnbull Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, for horses four years old and older, run under set weights with penalties conditions over a distance of 2,000 metres. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse, M ...

(6) - Preferment (2015); Winx (2017); Winx (2018); Kings Will Dream (2019); Verry Elleegant (2020); Via Sistina (2024) *

Underwood Stakes The Underwood Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group One, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions, held at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late September each year. Total prize money ...

(2) - Foreteller (2013); Buckaroo (2024) *

Victoria Derby The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse ...

(3) - Preferment (2014); Manzoice (2022); Riff Rocket (2023) * Vinery Stud Stakes (3) - Verry Elleegant (2019); Hungry Heart (2021); Fangirl (2022) * William Reid Stakes (1) - September Run (2022) * Winx Stakes (4) - Winx (2018); Verry Elleegant (2020); Fangirl (2023); Via Sistina (2024)

References

1973 births Living people People from Foxton, New Zealand New Zealand racehorse trainers New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductees Australian Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees {{NewZealand-bio-stub

Background

Party Belle

Training in Australia

Group 1 Winners (180)

See also

References