Waldron eyes another big prize with stable star

Having pocketed one big prize with Cluedo Lane (NZ) (Ghibellines), newly established Wingatui trainer Joe Waldron is targeting another at Riccarton Park this weekend.

At his last start Cluedo Lane surprised his trainer and shocked most other observers when he won the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight-For-Age (1600m).

With a rating of just 78, he was at a supposed huge disadvantage under the conditions carrying 59 kilograms against much higher rated opposition, but he brushed that aside with an easy win over Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel) (R96) and Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) (R92).

“It was a surprise to a degree but not a shock for me,” said Waldron, who has prepared five winners from 33 starters since he and his partner Sarah Fannin set up a stable at Wingatui at the beginning of this season.

“That was only his second start for us but he had just got beaten first-up and his previous form, like his second in the TAB Mile Trial, was also very sound.”

Waldron trains Cluedo Lane for his co-breeder, now retired Rangiora trainer Michael Stokes, and he’s now looking forward to heading back to Canterbury with the Ghibellines gelding for Saturday’s $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m).

“We purposely haven’t raced him since the White Robe as we didn’t want to risk getting any more weight,” Waldron said. “He gets in with two kilos less (57kg) and the wide draw isn’t ideal, but he drew wide last time so I guess it is what it is.

“He’s good, he’s done well in the meantime with a jumpout and a gallop between races, there are no fitness concerns. It’s a strong field, as you would expect for such a good stake, but I’m confident he’ll be competitive again.”

Waldron has extensive experience, having acted as travelling foreman for former highly successful transtasman raider Murray Baker, and that exposure to Australian racing encouraged him to try his luck in Victoria.

“It wasn’t as if I wasn’t successful – I had 60 runners for 11 wins there in our last season – but up against so many big outfits it’s very tough getting established.

“I was trying to compete with horses we were buying online for $2,500 to $5,500, and while we still got results, the level we were operating at made it tough.

“I think that trainers of my scale can be far more competitive in the better races here than they would be in Australia.

“It was a big learning curve, but in the end Sarah and I were both keen to come home. Being an Otago boy it made sense to lease stables from the (Otago) club and set up here at Wingatui.

“At the moment we’ve got 10 in work, which is a good number with the two of us riding our own work, and we’re very happy with the results we’ve had in a short time.

“Brave Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) did well with two wins and two seconds from five starts after he cost just $10,000 from up north and we’re looking at a race like the Stewards at the Cup carnival with him.

Cluedo Lane will be one of three Waldron-trained runners making the trip to Riccarton this weekend, with stablemates Awesome Lineup (Awesome Rock) and American Liaison (American Pharoah) entered for support races.

Both were winners for Waldron in Victoria and with one run each under the belt to kick off their New Zealand careers, he’s looking positively to the future with them.

“I won two races with Awesome Lineup over there and dropping back to Rating 65 on Saturday I’m expecting a good run,” Waldron said.

“American Liaison, who won three for us, is in the open sprint, but only because I didn’t have much in the way of options, but he’s definitely got more wins in him.”

Former Victorian jockey Matt Cartwright, who has ridden American Liaison previously while his brother Luke won a race on Awesome Lineup, will ride both on Saturday. Akshay Balloo will stay with Cluedo Lane after partnering him in the White Robe WFA.