Waller looks to Generation Next in rare triple two-year-old showing
As superstar Winx edges closer to the end of her brilliant career, Chris Waller will no doubt look to the stable's Generation Next, including a rare triple representation in a two-year-old feature on Saturday.
Lucicello, Rotator and Still Single will all contest the group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) on their home track, with Lucicello given the slight nod by their master trainer.
First starter Magnate will fly the stable flag in the Canonbury Stakes.
While Accession looms as Waller's early two-year-old star - he will start favourite in next Saturday's $2 million Inglis Millennium - the trainer will continue to adopt a conservative approach with his younger horses.
For all of the group 1 triumphs, it remains hard to believe Waller has collected just three two-year-old majors.
In fact, Waller said he might have easily pushed Winx harder in a bid to get her to race in the Golden Slipper, but then asked would she have kicked on like she has later in her career.
As for his Widden Stakes trio, Waller said: "The old saying in racing is when you've got unraced two-year-olds in the stable, there's always a lot of hope.
"I'm lucky enough to have three really well-bred horses like these running on Saturday.
"They all trialled well. I wouldn't be surprised if none of them won, but I'd be surprised if all three of them don't win good races in their careers.
"If I had to choose one for Saturday, I'd say Lucicello, and only because she's had the benefit of doing a little bit more work than the other two - from a first-up perspective I'd lean towards her.
"You won't be able to separate these three by the end of their careers.''
Luciello and Rotator are greys by I Am Invincible and Not A Single Doubt, while Still Single, by More Than Ready, tuned up with two trials. All three have drawn well with Lucicello as short as $4.20 in early markets.
Waller said while he had not dominated the big-money races for two-year-olds, his stable had not suffered.
"We've got a really good team who identify weaknesses as soon as there is a weakness, and we'll look after our horses and give them time,'' he said.
"We've missed out on some big two-year-old races but, geez, we've picked up some other good ones as a result.
"Winx could have possibly got there to the Slipper if we really pushed her, but it was a blessing in disguise we didn't do that.''
Pressday, Press Statement and The Autumn Sun are Waller's only group 1 winners at two.
He has just 30 two-year-olds in work, but there is a lot to like about Saturday's crew.
Another horse who enjoyed the benefit of time is Girl Tuesday, who will resume in Saturday's 1500m event later in the day and look to make it five wins from as many starts.
Girl Tuesday is a four-year-old mare who did not hit the racetrack until August last year.
Girl Tuesday is out of Tuesday Joy, John Singleton's top mare who won staying events such as the Ranvet and The BMW, as well as the Coolmore as a three-year-old.
She will follow in her mother's footsteps and target some of the big staying features in the spring.
"She's potentially a top-liner. We'll keep going through the grades with her,'' Waller said.
Meanwhile, the champ pulled up well from her second trial during the week and could not be better ahead of her first-up assault on the Apollo Stakes on February 16.
Winx will shoot for 30 straight wins ahead of what is shaping as her emotional farewell from racing.