Chris Waller Recounts Royal Occasion
- Sunday, 28 June 2015 08:17
Training a horse that once belonged to The Queen was the closest Chris Waller ever thought he would get to the monarch.
So he was understandably nervous when he was called to the Royal Box at Ascot on the day Brazen Beau ran second to Undrafted in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
He need not have worried as he was put at ease immediately and came away amazed by The Queen's knowledge of racing.
"She has a very good understanding of our racing," Waller said.
"We talked about My Kingdom Of Fife. I spent about ten minutes with her and she asked about our sprinters.
"She even said Undrafted would be very hard to beat.
"She told me she keeps 28 mares and works out what stallions they will go to. She has also kept all her late mother's jumping mares.
"It was a huge thrill to meet her but I admit I was very nervous."
My Kingdom Of Fife won the 2011 Queen Elizabeth Stakes for his Australian owners.
Both Gai Waterhouse and David Hayes who had runners at the meeting also had audiences with Her Majesty.
Waller will head back to England next Sunday to oversee the final days leading up to Brazen Beau running in the July Cup at York.
It will be a totally different role for Sydney's premier trainer with the colt running in the Godolphin blue.
Sheikh Mohammed's Darley bought Brazen Beau last spring as a stallion and he raced on lease to his previous owners until the Diamond Jubilee.
"We stayed at Godolphin at Newmarket in the lead-up to Royal Ascot," Waller said.
"It is an amazing operation and he is doing very well.
"I'll go back on Sunday for the final lead-up."
Craig Williams rode Brazen Beau in the Diamond Jubilee but Waller said Godolphin would have the final call on a July Cup jockey.
William Buick and James Doyle are Godolphin's English jockeys while its retained Australian rider James McDonald is also in the UK for a few weeks and could be in the mix.
