Chris Waller favours Strike One to go back-to-back in Saturday's $100,000 Stayer's Cup at Rosehill on what could be a major day for the leading Sydney trainer.Waller is in sight of 100 Sydney winners this season and with chances in several races on Saturday he could claim the three victories he needs to reach the milestone.Leading the charge for the Waller team is Strike One, the $2.25 favourite in the feature Stayer's Cup (3200m) ahead of stablemate Patrician's Glory ($3.20).Strike One was succ
Chris Waller favours Strike One to go back-to-back in Saturday's $100,000 Stayer's Cup at Rosehill on what could be a major day for the leading Sydney trainer.
Waller is in sight of 100 Sydney winners this season and with chances in several races on Saturday he could claim the three victories he needs to reach the milestone.
Leading the charge for the Waller team is Strike One, the $2.25 favourite in the feature Stayer's Cup (3200m) ahead of stablemate Patrician's Glory ($3.20).
Strike One was successful in the race last year and Waller has had it in his sights since the Sydney Cup in April when Strike One finished seventh.
"But had he won the Sydney Cup he would have been aimed at Melbourne instead," Waller said.
The trainer believes Strike One has "become a bit cunning" but said the objective would be to have the stayer well within striking distance coming to the business end of the gruelling journey.
"He's been throwing his races away a bit from the 1000 to 400-metre marks, getting a bit far out of his ground," Waller said.
"Tomorrow we'll make sure we're a lot closer turning for home and hopefully overcome that."
The Stayer's Cup has been reduced to just six runners after Friday's scratching of Davcon.
The race originally had just five nominations but Waller was quick to add last-start midweek 2800m winner Patrician's Glory to the mix when entries were extended.
Waller revealed it would more than likely be the gelding's final start for the stable with a sale imminent.
"It was a very easy decision (to put Patrician's Glory in as a late nomination), especially as he had won over 2800 metres last start," Waller said.
"Had he not won last start I probably wouldn't have done it, but he won quite well with a big weight and he won't know himself tomorrow with a light weight (53kg).
"He's very close to being sold which is why he wasn't originally nominated. But when the field was so weak that's when we thought he was going to be a great chance at winning some good prizemoney."
Strike One hasn't won since last year's Stayer's Cup but will be reunited with Nash Rawiller who was on board last year.
Rawiller has ridden Strike One five times for three wins and Waller believes it's a big plus for the favourite.
"He loves Nash Rawiller," Waller said.
"I'm sure they're good mates."
Waller, who leads the Sydney premiership by 17-1/2 wins over Peter Snowden, has 12 runners across seven of the eight races on Saturday.
Along with Strike One, Coup Ay Tee is also a short-priced favourite ($2.10) in the Edmen Group Hcp (1500m) on the back of his last-start win at the track two weeks ago.
Waller will become just the fifth trainer to prepare 100 winners in a Sydney season should he reach the mark by July 31.