Spiritjim adds more depth to Waller stable

Chris Waller is about to welcome highly regarded former French stayer Spiritjim to his star-studded stable.

Good enough to run in the past two editions of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Spiritjim has this week landed in Australia and will serve a mandatory period in quarantine before going into work with Sydney’s premier trainer.

But Waller says Spiritjim, a European purchase for Sun International’s Ting Kong Cheng of Eliza Park fame, is unlikely to be seen until deep into the Sydney autumn carnival.

“I’ll be looking to run him at the end of the Sydney carnival and look to get a bit of a guide from there,” Waller said.

“It will be more about Brisbane with him and then the spring.”

Spiritjim raced 18 times in France for six wins and two placings.

A son of champion European sire Galileo, Spiritjim’s record would have been even better if not for a positive swab after his win in the Group One Grand Prix Saint Cloud in 2014.

The six-year-old arrives in Australia after finishing down the course behind Golden Horn in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October at his penultimate start for leading French trainer Pascal Bary.

“He’s got good international form and that makes him an attractive proposition for the spring,” Waller said.

“He was bought by Eliza Park and I’m thankful for the opportunity. Although I’ve only seen him on video he looks like a nice, imposing sort of horse.”

Spiritjim has been well found in early markets for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Sydney Cup, two signature races during The Championships in Australia.

Pre-post bookmakers rate Spiritjim as a $15 Queen Elizabeth Stakes chance and he is on the second line of Sydney Cup betting at $11.

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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