Chris Waller has commenced the racing season with a bang, securing yet another Group 1 prize.
Australia’s leading trainer amassed a record 22 Group 1 wins in the 2025-26 season and has now captured the first two Group 1 races of the new racing season.
After Autumn Glow took out the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last week, Beiwacht led his rivals a merry chase to claim the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Carried to the front by Nash Rawiller, Beiwacht ($6) scored a three-length victory over Mr Brightside ($21), with the $3.30 favourite Cosmic Crusader a short-neck behind in third.
Beiwacht was one of five colts Waller had in Saturday’s field, and the trainer expressed his pleasure in seeing the four-year-old resume from a spell and win in such commanding fashion.
The colt had been scratched from the Winx Stakes the previous week due to a raised temperature, but by Monday morning, the four-year-old’s spring campaign was back on track.
“We didn’t panic,” Waller stated.
“It was enough to suggest he didn’t need to leave the stable, and remarkably, his blood results on Monday were perfect.
“We galloped him at Rosehill on Tuesday. He was fine on Wednesday, and everything has been good since, so whatever it was, it didn’t last long.”
Beiwacht is now a three-time Group 1 winner over the 1400m journey, and Waller indicated he would consult with the Godolphin group to determine future plans.
Waller did suggest that international travel was a possibility for Beiwacht.
“We said last year we were keen to take him internationally, but he’s not a truly adaptable horse,” Waller commented.
“He was out of his comfort zone in the Lightning Stakes, and it dented our confidence a little bit.
“He’s a specialist 1400-metre type horse, so there are some international thoughts there.”
Waller mentioned that Beiwacht had settled well into his stable and, for a four-year-old entire, was very relaxed pre-race.
“Saddling him up before the race, he was a delight to work with,” Waller remarked.
“He was really focused. It sounds like I’m talking about a person, but he was truly in the zone and just concentrating on his racing.
“We’ll find something. I’ll talk to the Godolphin team and I’m sure there will be some good races in store for him.”
Beiwacht’s convincing Memsie Stakes victory positions him as a strong contender for upcoming races; explore racing betting markets for the latest odds.