Racing premierships aren't won in August but trainer Chris Waller can go a long way towards making an early-season statement at Randwick on Tuesday.While Waller has a string of potential spring stars at his disposal, it is some of his stable's lesser-known gallopers who can be expected to form the backbone of a premiership bid.He has seven such runners engaged at Randwick with his team a mixture of ex-New Zealanders, European imports and lightly-raced stock with pedigrees to say there will win r

Racing premierships aren't won in August but trainer Chris Waller can go a long way towards making an early-season statement at Randwick on Tuesday.

While Waller has a string of potential spring stars at his disposal, it is some of his stable's lesser-known gallopers who can be expected to form the backbone of a premiership bid.

He has seven such runners engaged at Randwick with his team a mixture of ex-New Zealanders, European imports and lightly-raced stock with pedigrees to say there will win races.

Among Waller's most interesting acceptors, on breeding at least, is the sparingly raced Zabeel mare Ziva in the AJC Convention Centre Handicap (1600m).

A four-year-old, Ziva made a belated but promising debut when she was on the wrong end of a three-way photo in a 1400-metre maiden at Newcastle on July 24.

"She is typical of a Zabeel who has needed time," Waller said.

"I thought her trials were good and she ran well first-up.

"On her breeding, getting her out to a mile is going to be to her advantage."

Ziva's dam is the Danehill mare Faith Hill, a Group Two winner for Randwick trainer Ron Quinton.

Faith Hill's only other foal to race is the stakes-winning filly Black Minx.

Waller will also saddle up former Kiwi filly Raffles Miss (Chifley Maiden Plate).

The three-year-old was ridden out when fourth in a Rosehill barrier trial last week but her three New Zealand runs suggest she has an Australian future.

Mutawarath and Our Corsa will represent the stable in the Little Bay Handicap (1600m) with the former an ex-English five-year-old.

The gelding arrived in Australia as a York maiden winner and made an instant impact for Waller with a Kembla Grange win over 1400 metres on July 31.

Other acceptors for Waller are Ballet Academy, Telesmon and Needwood Lad.

Waller split Sydney racing powerhouses Peter Snowden and Gai Waterhouse when he finished second in last season's trainers' title.

He ended up just four wins behind Snowden with 94 winners and with a winning double at Randwick on Saturday he has taken an early lead in this season's title.

The Randwick track was rated in the slow range at acceptance time with the rail out 12 metres.