Winx, Sadler's Lake lead Waller Epsom bid

Thursday 1 October 2015, 1:51pm

Chris Waller is calling on his next generation of stars to deliver on their potential as his stable tries to extend a winning streak in Randwick's famous mile races.

In yet another example of the depth to his yard, Waller has the luxury of missing the $1 million Epsom Handicap with Doncaster Mile hero Kermadec and the 2013 winner Boban.

In their place will be three horses Waller figures can put his mind at ease as he tries to shape succession plans to serve his stable into the future.

It's a transition that could start as soon as Saturday with four-year-olds Winx and Sadler's Lake occupying two of the top three lines of Epsom betting and Silverball rated one of the best outsiders.

Waller concedes he has had some second thoughts about not giving Kermadec his chance to complete the Doncaster-Epsom double.

"There's so many things that cross your mind, thinking what if I had done this, what if I had done that, should this horse be in this race," Waller said.

"But all in all the more you worry about that, the more you are over-analysing.

"All I can hope for is that the run continues and the next wave of horses step up."

Since Triple Honour won the 2008 Doncaster, Waller has made Randwick's Group One handicap mile races his own.

Waller has trained the past three Doncaster winners and he is on a hat-trick of Epsom victories.

Bookmakers rate Winx the horse most likely to continue Waller's spree.

She is a popular pick and at $2.80 seems certain to start the shortest-priced Epsom favourite in almost a decade.

In a stable of headline horses, Waller says Winx might be his next.

"I think she's good enough to win an Epsom and that's a big thing for a mare that's just turned four," Waller said.

Winx earned her Epsom favouritism with an astonishing Theo Marks Stakes win, a week before Sadler's Lake confirmed his place in the race with a Group Three victory at Randwick.

"I can see little bits of Boban in Sadler's Lake in terms of his preparation and how he's got there," Waller said.

"Although it's not a genuine handicap as such when Boban won it, Sadler's Lake has come in the back door as a late improver."

Jockey Tommy Berry likes the Melbourne weight-for-age form his mount Entirely Platinum takes into the race where there is only 2kg between the topweight Hooked and the 10 horses weighted on the 56kg limit.

"He's been Group One placed his two runs this preparation and been beaten by Boban and Fawkner and they've both franked the form in their recent runs," Berry said.

– AAP

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