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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterWaller joins elite club with 200th Group One
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 24th, 2026 2:18 pm
Expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller pictured with his 25-time Group One winner Winx. Photo: Brett Holburt (Racing Photos)
Expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller joined an elite club at Doomben on Saturday when recording his 200th Group One win courtesy of Birdman in the Doomben Cup (2000m).
The Hall of Fame trainer became the first Kiwi and third Australian-based trainer to reach the mark, joining legendary horsemen Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith, and he said he is honoured to be in their company, having revered them for many years.
“With Tommy Smith, I was embarrassed to be around him, I used to be in awe of him,” Waller said. “I had a good relationship with Bart, he was an amazing man.”
It was apt that Birdman was ridden by expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald, with the pair having developed a formidable partnership, winning more than 50 Group One races together, most notably through the likes of Nature Strip, Via Sistina, Winx and ill-fated New Zealand-bred mare Verry Elleegant.
McDonald, who in March set a new record of Group One victories in Australia, was rapt to bring up the milestone for his compatriot and good friend.
“The man behind the operation, he is just an absolute master and it's a privilege to be part of his team,” McDonald said.
“How he preps these horses is incredible. He deserves all the accolades he gets and all the records he breaks because he's a one of a generation sort of trainer and we're lucky to be in his bubble.”
Hailing from Foxton, Waller was immersed in racing from a young age, and he began his career in the small Horowhenua town under local trainer Paddy Busuttin at the age of 17.
He remained with Busuttin until he left to train in Singapore five years later, and Waller took over his stable and commenced his training career at the age of 23, recording his first win with Go Morgan at Trentham in 1997.
Waller would go on to record a further 65 wins in New Zealand, including the Gr.3 Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) Ripon By, his first Group success, before he felt the pull of Australia.
He itched that scratch later that year and tested the waters in Sydney before making a permanent move across the Tasman in 2002.
He won his first Group One race in 2008 when Glenn Boss rode Triple Honour to victory in the Doncaster Handicap (1600m), and his star continued to rise in Sydney, winning his first metropolitan trainers’ premiership in the 2010-11 season, and he has dominated the jurisdiction ever since, retaining that crown for the last 15 seasons.
Waller now runs stables in Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast, and said his success is reliant on his owners and the quality team he has built around him.
“I have got an amazing team, amazing support from owners that make it worthwhile, jockeys and track riders, there are just so many people behind our team,” Waller said.
Waller took a big risk 26 years ago when heading offshore, but it has paid off in a big way, and he hopes his success can inspire others.
“I think what I have done is shown that anything is possible,” he said. “Anything is possible when you have got confidence and good horses.”
