What's in a name?

Plenty if you are Chris Waller trying to win the Bob Ingham Handicap.

Waller is preparing for Group One assaults at Moonee Valley this weekend with Arinosa in the Manikato Stakes and Foreteller in the Cox Plate.

But he is just as desperate to win a benchmark race at Rosehill on Saturday worth the standard $85,000 but carrying the name of a man who has been one of his biggest supporters and friends.

Together with his late brother Jack and their families, Bob Ingham ran the hugely successful Woodlands racing and breeding empire.

Five years after his brother died in 2003, Bob Ingham sold Woodlands to Sheikh Mohammed in a reported $500 million deal.

After the sale, Bob Ingham hand-picked Waller to be his trainer when he re-entered racing, albeit on a much smaller scale.

At the time, Waller was a promising young trainer but not the superstar he is now with three Sydney trainers' premierships in the bag.

And he will never forget the faith Bob Ingham showed in him, which is why Saturday's race means so much.

"Every Friday at four o'clock I give him a call and I'm always on the edge of my seat scared to miss the call," Waller said.

"He has been so helpful to me in my career through so many little aspects I couldn't even start to explain.

"We've got a great team but he's been a very, very important part of my career.

"I start to get a little bit emotional just talking about it.

"He's just a magic man and he's got a beautiful family. I have so much respect for them."

Waller is a strong chance to win the race named in honour of his mentor, a feat he said would be "magic" if achieved.

He will start Said Com, Fulgur, Disciple and Heart Testa and cannot split them, although he said Heart Testa has the benefit of race fitness while the others are resuming.

"They will probably all go their separate ways after Saturday but it will be a good starting point."

None of the Waller quartet is owned by Bob Ingham but all will be racing for him.