Flamingo Star To Make Australian Debut

A juvenile race in Germany 2-1/2 years ago could have a significant bearing on the Hawkesbury Cup.

Flamingo Star, a new stable acquisition for Chris Waller, makes his Australian debut in Saturday's 1600m Cup and boasts a win over Protectionist in a Group Three 1700m race at Krefeld in November 2012.

The five-year-old will be one of several Waller-trained runners in Saturday's 1600m Group Three race and is one of the classiest imports to enter the stable.

Trainer Chris Waller.Trainer Chris Waller.

Big Memory, who finished just behind the placegetters in the German race, joined the Tony McEvoy stable a few months later and his Australian performances include a win in the 2014 Group Two Herbert Power Stakes in which Protectionist was fourth before his Melbourne Cup win.

"Flamingo Star arrived in the stable on the 2nd of March and is still settling in but his barrier trial on Friday was pleasing and he is set to run at Hawkesbury," Waller's racing manager Liam Prior said.

"Sixteen hundred metres appears to be his best distance and is a good place to start.

"The plan is to give him a light first preparation here and then prepare him for the spring."

Several long-time stable clients share in the ownership of Flamingo Star but the horse will race in the colours of his original owner Marlene Haller who has retained an interest.

Three of Flamingo Star's four wins have been at Group Three level including his last European start in the Prix Perth (1700m) at Saint Cloud in October.

He has been given a rating of 105, one point below Laser Hawk and I'm Imposing who head the 24 Cup entries on 106.

The Waller-trained I'm Imposing has been confirmed as a non-runner after his third in Saturday's Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast while the weather will determine how many of the other seven stable entries run at Hawkesbury.