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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
“Different horse”: Chris Waller rates his top Melbourne Cup hopes
Andrew Slevison • November 3rd, 2025 12:57 pm
Chris Waller goes into Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup with a very strong hand.
The champion trainer saddles up five runners in the great two-mile handicap at Flemington with three right in the market - Valiant King, Buckaroo and River Of Stars - and two proper roughies - Land Legend and More Felons.
“We’ve got a good range. There’s a clear top three and then the other two are capable on their day but need to lift,” Whateley said on SEN’s Whateley.
“Land Legend and More Felons need to lift but the other three look great chances.”
Waller assessed his three best chances, starting with River Of Stars who ran second in the Caulfield Cup and is currently $18 with Sportsbet.
River Of Stars
“The last two to three weeks we’ve got to have horses that have run the right distances, heading in the right direction, finding form and that’s where Valiant King and River Of Stars come into it,” Waller said.
“River Of Stars was more so (set) for the Caulfield Cup. We’ve gone through the right distances, got her fit and then finally 2400m of the Caulfield Cup she ran a really good second behind the short-priced favourite Half Yours.
“River Of Stars is spot on for a Melbourne Cup. She’s got good distance form in England and also France, she’s got form on soft tracks.
“If she brings that French Group 1 form... the distance is very similar.”
The seven-year-old mare will be ridden by Beau Mertens from barrier 14 with only 51.5kg.
Valiant King
Then there is Valiant King who won the Bart Cummings with authority two starts back before finishing third behind Half Yours and River Off Stars in the Caulfield Cup.
“Valiant King is very similar. He’s been running in some good races before coming to Australia, he can handle a soft track. So there’s straight away your form.
“Valiant King won the Bart Cummings at Flemington over 2500m. He came from well back and won with authority. He backed it up with an amazing run in the Caulfield Cup, a placing.
“He’s just a completely different horse. He looks fantastic, he’s matured now, he’s got weight (on his frame) and he’s fit.
“That Bart Cummings win was dominant. He’s just a different horse this year, he’s got confidence, I can’t undersell how important confidence is for a horse.
“That’s the difference, he’s found his mojo, he’s got confidence. His Caulfield Cup run was fantastic, we went back from a wide draw. He loved it back there having an easy time, then stormed home at the finish.
“It’s a great way to finish off your races. He’s been having a ball at his last two runs, he’s loving it.”
Valiant King will be ridden by 2020 winner Jye McNeil and the pair will jump from barrier 10 carrying just 51kg. He is currently $8.50.
Buckaroo
The next of the Waller hopes is Buckaroo.
He has very similar form to Waller’s 2021 winner Verry Elleegant having run really well in the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate before going on to win the Cup.
“Then we’ve got the punters’ favourite Buckaroo,” Waller said of the seven-year-old gelding.
“He just stands up at every dance regardless of distances. We tested him at two miles last year, he had a torrid run, he was wide from the outset. Flemington is a lovely big track but if you’re caught three-wide it’s a death trap.
“He did a great job to finish as close as he did and he’s got that amazing Via Sistina form. He’s the class horse that you try to get the Melbourne Cup.
“You go through Verry Elleegant’s form. She was a dominant stayer and she won a Caulfield Cup, just. Buckaroo ran second in a Caulfield Cup last year and was a bit unlucky.
“Verry Elleegant came through the spring with almost identical races to Buckaroo. She won first-up but I don’t think she won her next few runs, she ran third in the Cox Plate, just like Buckaroo has done. Very similar formlines.
“The question mark is 57kg. That’s a big right when you’ve got good horses with 51, 52 and 53kg. That’s the big query but I wouldn’t be surprised if he won it.”
Craig Williams will ride Buckaroo, currently $9, from barrier 12 with 57kg.
Best Waller hope
Overall, Waller believes that his lightweight pair should be taken seriously on a wet Flemington track on Cup day.
“River Of Stars and Valiant King, they’d be the handicappers’ picks, I’m sure,” he said further.
“Valiant King is in on the minimum after winning the Bart Cummings and running third in the Caulfield Cup.
“River Of Stars has been placed in the Caulfield Cup and doesn’t have to carry the penalty.”
Waller was asked to rate his best winning hope of the quintet: “I’ll go with no.24 - Valiant King.”
Prominent owner John O’Neill, who has Buckaroo, Valiant King and Ciaron Maher’s Middle Earth in the Cup, was asked the same question by Gerard Whateley. His answer: “Valiant King.”
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