Jockey Glen Boss (R) and trainer Chris Waller after the horse Triple Honour won the Emirates Doncaster Handicap at Royal Randwick in 2008. Photo / Getty Images
Jockey Glen Boss (R) and trainer Chris Waller after the horse Triple Honour won the Emirates Doncaster Handicap at Royal Randwick in 2008. Photo / Getty Images
Chris Waller is adamant The Verminator needs the sting out of the ground to post his second consecutive Country Cup success.
The Verminator and veteran stayer Bellagio Wynn will be Waller's two runners in the Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) today.
A 5-year-old, The Verminator swept to victory last start ona good track in the Wyong Cup (2100m) but Waller said he was hoping for some give in the track.
"I'm reluctant to run him on a good track because he does jar up," Waller said yesterday.
"Hopefully the track will be dead ... apparently they had some rain in Newcastle on Sunday night.
"It can dry out quickly up there, especially this time of the year but hopefully there is plenty of grass on it and we might get away with the right surface because he's going very well."
The Verminator began his current campaign in April and the Newcastle Cup will be the 10th start of his preparation. But he continues to race in great heart and notched consecutive third placings at Rosehill before his Wyong Cup success.
Bellagio Wynn has drawn immediately to the inside of his stablemate but Waller admits he needs to turn his form around.
The 8-year-old has disappointed in two runs since his eye-catching first-up third to Foreteller in the Winter Challenge in July.
"Unfortunately with him the time's coming where he is getting near the end of his career," Waller said.
"He has shown throughout his career he is really a 2000m horse but he's lost that bit of dash and this sort of race is the only type he's really competitive in now."
Wyong Cup placegetters Essence Of Success and Gazza Guru will again clash with The Verminator at Newcastle and Stephen Farley, trainer of Gazza Guru, is upbeat about his chances.
"He's racing in the best form of his career and the bigger track and the light weight [53kg] will suit him," Farley said.
Despite Waller's concerns, The Verminator kept his place at the top of TAB Sportsbet's Cup market at $4.
He shades Essence Of Success ($4.50) and the Victorian-trained stayer Green Moon ($5.50).
