'It was a bad ride' - Chris Waller weighs in on Craig Williams SA Derby steer
Chris Waller and Craig Williams
Champion trainer Chris Waller has weighed in publicly on Craig Williams' steer aboard Ahuriri in last Saturday's Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville.
Waller admits he thought it was a "bad ride" and that his filly should have won last Saturday's feature, taken out by the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun.
"We have good rides and bad rides, there's no in between," Waller said on his weekly preview show.
"It was a bad ride ... things didn't go Craig's way, so it's classified as a bad ride.
"She would have won."
The first of two CWR Runners Previews!
— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) May 9, 2024
Chris & Charlie share a quick review, including Ahuriri's run in the South Australian Derby, Tutta la Vitta up for sale tonight at the Inglis Chairman's & discuss the stables chances at Gosford.
Good luck & enjoy the racing. pic.twitter.com/ezgConmfrD
Ahuriri settled back in the field and travelled strongly as they neared the home turn.
But when Williams opted to circle the field, he found plenty of traffic aboard Ahuriri, who ran into a few dead ends and didn't find clear room until the race was all but over.
The daughter of Almanzor, who was well backed to start the $4.40 favourite, finished strongly to run fifth.
COCO SUN WINS THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DERBY! ˜¸ÂÂÂÂÂ
JAMIE KAH GETS HER ADELAIDE GROUP 1! 🤩 @jamieleekah07@mcevoymitchell@RacingSApic.twitter.com/QniFd39fIR
- 7HorseRacing ðŸÂÂÂÂÂÂŽ (@7horseracing) May 4, 2024
Jamie Kah, rider of the eventual winner, went up the inside aboard her mount, and Waller admits it was the winning move.
He also declared Williams is "still a great jockey" and that Ahuriri pulled up well from Saturday's effort.
"Jamie Kah went on the inside behind us and won the race," Waller said.
"We went to the outside and got into all the trouble in the world, so bad luck Craig, it was a bad ride. Horse is going great, Craig (Williams) is still a great jockey."
It's the second time in two months that Waller has taken aim at specific rides in Group 1 races after the trainer criticised James McDonald, Nash Rawiller and Blake Shinn for their rides behind Pride Of Jenni in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April.
MORE: Beaten Queen Elizabeth jockeys questioned as Chris Waller weighs in
Racing Australia have Ahuriri listed as active with the filly nominated for both the Queensland Derby and Queensland Oaks.
She's a $26 chance in betting for the Derby with TAB while they have her at $11 in Oaks markets.
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