Chris Waller has revealed his “resilient” staff are taking it one day at a time following the death of stable star Ohope Wins in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
Speaking for the first time about the tragic aftermath of the mid-race fall, which resulted in his Australian Oaks winner being put down in the home straight, Waller said dealing with the loss of a galloper was never easy.
“They’re pretty resilient, the people that look after these horses, they obviously love them dearly, and they’re pets, just like a cat or dog,” a visibly upset Waller said at Flemington on Tuesday morning.
“So, yeah, it’s always tough when there’s a missing [horse] in the stable.”
Ohope Wins and jockey Jye McNeil came crashing to the ground about 300 metres from the winning post during the Caulfield Cup when last year’s winner Half Yours (Mark Zahra) clipped heels and was brought down in front of them.
The fall happened in front of a packed public section. Waller watched the race from Randwick, having stayed in Sydney for The Everest meeting.
Half Yours was able to get to his feet and gallop away, but is unlikely to race again this spring, almost certainly being ruled out of a Melbourne Cup title defence by trainer Tony McEvoy.
McNeil and Zahra, both Melbourne Cup winners, were cleared of any serious injury on Sunday.
“I’ve spoken to Jye,” Waller said. “He’s improving with each day, and it’s great to see him out of hospital. He’s come out of it pretty well.”
McNeil was booked to ride Waller’s Valiant King in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup, but the trainer has opted to scratch the horse and run him at Flemington in the MV Gold Cup on Saturday.
Despite the severity of the fall, both McNeil and Zahra were not deemed to have concussion – a scenario that would have seen them stood down for 12 days under Racing Victoria protocols.
Waller was in Melbourne on Tuesday to watch his Cox Plate runners, Aeliana and Birdman, have an early morning hit out at Flemington. The Cox Plate barrier draw will be held Tuesday night.
The trainer acknowledged the support of the Melbourne Racing Club, which runs Caulfield Racecourse, following Saturday’s accident.
“I commend them for offering counselling, and they’ve been fantastic because it’s good that people really understand how much people love horses and how much goes into a horse,” Waller said.
“No risks are ever taken, and the first choice is to bring them home safe, regardless of where they finish. But the staff, they’re coping well.
“You just take it one day at a time, just deal with it as each day comes.”
Waller has won six of the past 10 Cox Plates, including four with the record-breaking Winx between 2015-2018 and the past two with the Yulong-owned import Via Sistina.
That mare caused the sensation of the spring in 2024 when she dislodged jockey James McDonald during a Breakfast With The Best gallop at Moonee Valley and bolted away with a loose bandage hanging from her hind leg, and running three laps before being caught.
While many feared the champion mare would be unable to take her place in the weight-for-age championship after the scare, she came out and won by eight lengths in record time (2:01.07).
Waller said Aeliana and Birdman were set to peak in Saturday’s Cox Plate, being run at Flemington for the first time while Moonee Valley is closed for $250 million renovations.
“Both horses are in great form,” he said. “They’re genuine group 1 horses. Aeliana’s ready to peak after a good semi-final run last start (third in the Turnbull Stakes), and Birdman the same (third in the Might And Power Stakes).”
McDonald, who has won the past four Cox Plates, flew in from Sydney to trial Aeliana, while Ben Melham rode Birdman.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.