Queensland sunshine to revitalise Waller filly

Ben Dorries - Tuesday August 22

Chris Waller hopes the Queensland sunshine will work wonders for Colosimo as the filly strives to return to form at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Advertisement
Queensland. Beautiful one day, perfect the next. But can some winter sunshine work wonders for Chris Waller's filly?

The former Steve O'Dea-trained sprinter impressed in winning two Sydney trials for Waller but disappointed when she was beaten almost eight lengths over 1250m at Canterbury on August 9.

There were excuses that day when Colosimo, wearing blinkers for the first time, pulled hard and raced without cover and was also found to have a laceration to the off hind cannon.

The Foxwedge filly clearly has talent, winning her first two starts in Queensland last December, but is yet to bridge the gap between potential and performance.

Searching for a return to form, Colosimo will run in Saturday's QTIS 3YO Handicap (1100m) at the Gold Coast with Damian Browne to ride.

Waller's Gold Coast stable manager Paul Shailer said a change of environment should be great for the filly and he feels she should win if she brings her trial form to race day.

"She is still learning the trade but to be fair she was disappointing in Sydney in her last start," Shailer said.

"But Chris has been saying there have been a few fillies in Sydney at the moment struggling with the cold and he felt bringing Colosimo to the Queensland sunshine could get her back thriving again.

"It is a lesser company she will be racing against on the Gold Coast and if she brings the form that saw her trial up well there is no reason she shouldn't be winning."

Waller has thrown in nominations for the Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Caulfield Classic (2000m) with Colosimo but Shailer indicated the immediate plan was simply to get her progressing through her grades in Queensland.

Waller now has 15 horses in his Gold Coast stable with a plan to target the riches of the Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival and be an even more dominant force during the winter carnival.

However Shailer said Waller's serious assault on the Magic Millions might be more than a year away.

"I would say that this being the first year we have had this (Gold Coast) stable, Chris will just watch the Magic Millions and assess it and put together some plans for the following year," Shailer said.

"At the moment the plan for the Queensland stable is getting the recipe right to be competitive up here in Wednesday and Saturday races.

"We still need to get that recipe right but Chris has cracked it in the toughest arena in Sydney so I'm sure he will find a great recipe for success in Queensland."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Future History Wins Last Aussie Stakes of 2025
The Listed VRC Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Eve was the last stakes race in Australia for 2025 and the cream rose to the top with race favourite Future History (GB) carrying 60kg to a popular victory.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Randwick
There were three heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Tuesday morning and while the Ciaron Maher trained Magic Millions contender Unit Five was a scratching there were still some interesting winners including the half-brother to Tempted and a million dollar filly by Home Affairs.
G1 Target for I Am Invincible Stallion
Stephen Marsh can make a strong case for each of his top-flight contenders at Trentham on Saturday.
New Year Brings New Challenges in NZB Filly of the Year Series
With the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) moving five weeks earlier to February this year, summer races over 2000 metres have taken on greater importance in the NZB Filly of the Year Series – starting with the $270,000 Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
The Family You Want a Part Of
A foal that was in the running for Breednet Favourite Foal of 2009 and is the one and only horse in Australia by infamous Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem has spawned a family that is becoming commercial gold.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 30
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Espionage Set for Kiwi Debut
Te Akau Racing will be tackling plenty of feature targets over the coming days, but one of their more interesting runners will appear on the undercard at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
New Years Sale Mail
Stakes racing aplenty over the next two days as we celebrate the end of 2025 and move forwards into 2026 with Black Type racing at Flemington, Canterbury, Ascot, Ellerslie and Sha Tin over the next two days.
Zoustar 3YO Secures a Start in $3million Sunlight
A Breednet ‘One to Watch’ when winning on debut at Warwick Farm on December 3, Zoustar gelding Ice Kool confirmed his potential winning at Randwick last Saturday and his trainer David Pfieffer now has eyes on the Gold Coast.
Zou Sensation Cracks $1million on New Years Eve
Australia’s reigning champion sire Zoustar is renowned for the racetrack exploits of his progeny and also the high prices they command in the sale ring, but not all of them are expensive and Bennett Racing found value when they bid just $150,000 to secure one of his colts from Widden Stud at Magic Millions in 2021.