Waller Dominates McKell Cup Acceptances

Champion trainer Chris Waller will saddle up the top five, in saddle cloth order, in Saturday's Listed McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens, with many of them appearing to have some chance, although the Joe Pride-trained Stockman (Tavistock-Crimson, by Zabeel) is the current favourite. Beaten just under two lengths last time out behind last Saturday's Gr2 Brisbane Cup winner Knights Order (So You Think), Stockman's recent form, along with carrying just 54kg, should see the Sam Clipperton-ridden gelding quite hard to beat. Of Waller's quintet, the in-form Yonkers (Medaglia d'Oro-Anne of Kiev, by Oasis Dream), a winner of two of his last three, does have five top-three placed efforts from six starts at 2000m; although his form at Rosehill is poor to date, he is in career best form and should acquit himself extremely well with Hugh Bowman in the saddle. While Waller, surprisingly, has never won the staying contest, his runners are sure to prove extremely competitive in the 12-horse field.

Stockman is the current McKell Cup favourite (pic: Steve Hart)