Kirini to continue Waller’s Qld success

Tough mare Kirini is an example of why trainer Chris Waller has targeted distance races in Queensland as she heads towards $100,000 prize money this campaign.

Waller is second on prize money earnings in Queensland this season with $2.144 million behind Tony Gollan who has $2.992 million.

Much of Waller’s prize money came from his two wins at last week’s Magic Millions meeting where two of his runners each picked up $600,000 for their wins.

Waller’s Queensland horses have won just under $1 million from only 100 runners in the first 5-1/2 months of the season.

Sydney’s leading trainer has won 15 metropolitan races in Queensland and picked up minor prize money another 54 times.

Kirini, who runs in Saturday’s Membership Handicap at Doomben, has earned $93,000 from two wins and two placings from four Queensland starts.

She is owned by two of Queensland’s biggest owners, Neville Morgan and David Devine and their wives.

Morgan has had a lot of success with Waller including Doncaster Mile wins with Rangirangdoo and Kermadec.

“Chris seems to know the right horses to send to Queensland. He thought Kirini might have been a Queensland Oaks horse last season but she has found her mark now,” Morgan said.

Waller is full of praise for his Gold Coast operation headed by manager Paul Shailer.

“Our early aim was to win staying races and Magic Millions races and we have done that,” he said.