Torgersen to help with milestones

There could be no more fitting horse than a rejuvenated Torgersen to help Chris Waller’s Queensland stable reach two milestones at Doomben.

Torgersen will run in the Listed Recognition Stakes (1350m) at Doomben where he will be ridden by Robbie Fradd.

If Torgersen can win, he will become Waller’s first black-type winner from the Queensland stable he set up in August.

A win by Torgersen would also lift the Queensland stable’s prize money to more than $500,000 for the season.

In the three months the Gold Coast stable has been operating it has earned $428,000 in metropolitan prize money and about $480,000 when provincial track efforts are included.

First prize money for the Recognition Stakes is $64,000.

Waller is 10th on the Brisbane metropolitan premiership with eight winners sp far.

Waller has made a point of sending stayers to Queensland but Torgersen’s win at the Gold Coast last month over 1400m gave him a special buzz.

It was Torgersen’s first win in nearly two years and since then he has turned in an eye-catching third at Doomben in a race with an on-pace bias which didn’t suit him.

Waller’s Queensland stable foreman Paul Shailer said Torgersen was typical of how Waller’s horses had flourished in Queensland.

“They do really well up here and he is back somewhere near the form which saw him not far from them in an Epsom Handicap two years ago,” Shailer said.

“He is down in weight and there should be plenty of early pace to suit him.”

Shailer said he expected Waller to send more stayers to Queensland in coming weeks and also to build up his team of two-year-olds in the north.

“But a win for Torgersen on Saturday would be a special moment,” he said.