Birdman's Doomben Cup Win Puts Waller in Elite Company

Chris Waller was reduced to tears—of joy and sorrow—after Birdman (IRE) chalked up the master trainer's 200th elite victory in the Doomben Cup (G1) at Doomben Racecourse May 23. Two weeks ago, the wonder mare Pride Of Jenni (AUS) had pinched her customary break and held off Birdman's finish in the Gold Coast's Hollindale Stakes (G2); this time—over an extra furlong—those placing were reversed in Doomben's AU$1M feature. Pride Of Jenni was some 12 lengths clear by the 800-meter mark, with James McDonald waiting patiently, second last near the back of the chasing peloton, at the rear of the seven-horse field. Unlike at the Gold Coast, the 8-year-old Pride Of Jenni was noticeably shortening stride soon after straightening with the margin reduced to 8 lengths. And it was Birdman—fitter for his first run in five weeks in the Hollindale—who emerged from the ruck to mow her down, coming away to score by 2.66 lengths, as a solidly backed AU$3.30 favorite. To her credit, Pride Of Jenni boxed on to take second at AU$3.60—lifting her earnings past AU$12.5 million—and 0.88 lengths clear of Vauban (FR). Half Yours (AUS) was 0.76 lengths further back in fourth. The Irish-bred Birdman finally has an elite title after five unplaced top-level attempts alongside three group wins in his 18 starts since being imported to race in Ozzie Kheir's colors. However, this day was all about Waller, the expat Kiwi who came to Sydney with nothing 26 years ago and has built himself into one of the world's all-time greats. With the past 15 Sydney training premierships to his name, he's now one of only three Australian trainers to break the 200 group 1 barrier. Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings ended tied on 246. Waller is only 53 and seems destined to fly way past that pair of greats before he is done. But on Saturday, it was a time of reflection as Waller marked the milestone in his customary way, with this sentimental bloke letting his emotions flow. "With Tommy Smith, I was embarrassed to be around him. I used to be in awe of him," he managed to say through the tears on local television. "And Bart, I had a good relationship with him, and he was an amazing man. "I think what I've done is show that anything is possible. I've got a good team and respect that team. "Anything is possible when you've got confidence and good horses." Yet the occasion was marked with sorrow as well, as Waller remembered Mark Timms, a part-owner of Birdman who recently lost a 12-month battle with cancer. "We lost a good friend, Mark Timms, six weeks ago," Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central. "He was in the horse, and his wife Leah is here today. He was a beautiful man, so it's a pretty touching win." Asked then how his milestone felt, Waller said: "I wish Timmsy was here, it's as simple as that." Waller set another yet another record with Birdman's win, breaking his own mark of 19 group 1 victories in a season, set only in 2024-25.