Chris Waller

Who is Chris Waller?

Chris Waller is a winning machine at the helm of a stable that throws unmatched numbers at races and has taken the term ‘system trainer’ to a new level. Waller’s reputation as the quintessential ‘system trainer’ should not diminish his horsemanship, innovation, competitiveness, and overall attention to detail, let alone his love for the sport and appreciation of its history and his place in it.

What is Waller best known for? Winx, for starters. Her fame transcended the sport, and whatever Waller achieves in the future, he will always be known as “the trainer of Winx.”

In terms of style, Waller’s approach is consistent and favours patience at the expense of two-year-old success, producing horses that are able to maintain form throughout a long preparation. Early on in his career, Waller was able to improve or rejuvenate older stable transfers and was a leader in getting the most from seemingly average European handicappers imported into his care.

It would be a hard marker to try and pick holes in Waller’s Hall of Fame-worthy CV. But not so long ago, critics could still point to his lack of success with two-year-olds, his failure to win an overseas Group 1 success, or his lack of a Melbourne Cup victory. Within the space of 18 months, he ticked all of those boxes.

Verry Elleegant’s 2021 Melbourne Cup was Waller’s breakthrough in Australia’s most famous race. Then there was Nature Strip’s dominance in the 2022 King’s Stand Stakes. Finally, Shinzo’s Golden Slipper victory in 2023 ticked that final box.

Chris Waller’s Origin Story

Chris Waller is often compared to TJ Smith, whose hardscrabble upbringing in poverty-stricken rural Australia instilled a ruthless streak and drive for success that resulted in 33 straight Sydney trainer’s premierships. As of 2024, Waller has 13 straight titles, and although his upbringing on a small dairy farm near the tiny town of Himatangi in country New Zealand isn’t mythologised as much as TJ Smith’s journey, the Kiwi trainer’s rise through the ranks with no family links or money behind him is nonetheless remarkable.

Starting as an assistant and travelling foreman to Paddy Busuttin in Foxton, New Zealand, Waller began as a trainer with just four horses at Rosehill in 2000. By 2010/11, he had snared his first Sydney trainer’s premiership. A year later, Waller had broken TJ Smith’s 37-year-old record for wins in a season (156 wins) when he prepared 167.5 winners.

Which horse is Chris Waller’s best ever?

Winx. You might have heard of her. Rather than try and stretch the limits of language to describe how good Winx was, it’s better to let the records do the talking. Winx won her last 33 races in succession, 25 Group 1s, and more than A$26 million in prizemoney, an Australian record.

What is Chris Waller’s greatest training achievement?

The ‘individual’ record that perhaps typifies Waller’s style, and will be perhaps hardest to beat by another trainer, is Waller’s 189 city winners in 2017-18. That win total was 95 more than his nearest rival, James Cummings.

But setting aside Winx’s brilliance, Waller’s care and attention to detail in preparing a horse for 33 straight wins over nearly four years is a remarkable training performance. A lot can go wrong in racing, and although Waller always deferred credit to his superstar, his trademark care, patience, and attention to detail ensured Winx turned up ready to win each day and retired uninjured.

Best quote on Chris Waller

“Chris has a great racing mind and remarkable vision. He places his horses extremely well, he’s just got this knack,” James McDonald said. “I’ve questioned it a few times and I’ve been bitten on the backside. He can set a horse for a race and I will just think, ‘What is he doing?’ But he will get it right so often, the horse will just win nearly every time.”