Son of a gun takes on Waller army

Trainer Aleacia Bennett with Star of Octagonal. Source: Waide Maguire / News Corp Australia

ALEACIA Bennett has had fewer starters in her training career than Chris Waller has runners in the Octagonal Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Waller is saddling up eight in the race — Coup Ay Tee, Bagman, Tromso, Tougher Than Ever, Hoylonny, Said Com, Fulgur and Masthead — which is yet another record for Sydney's all-conquering trainer.

Bennett, the 28-year-old from Singleton who is taking on the "Waller Army'' with Star Of Octagonal, can only marvel at the sheer stable size and extraordinary success of her rival trainer.

"When I had a look at the entries I said 'man, that is a lot of horses','' Bennett said of Waller's eight runners.

"He (Chris Waller) would be amazing to sit down with and have a chat about the way he gets around and manages such a big stable. How does he remember and program all his horses?''

Waller is at the peak of his training career and is dominating Sydney racing in a manner not seen since Tommy Smith in his heyday. It is not uncommon for the reigning premier trainer to have multiple runners in a race but eight is a new standard even for him.

In the 2013-14 season, Waller has had more than 1250 starters nationally for 180 wins and prizemoney of $19.6 million. The only other trainers to have at least 1000 runners this season are Melbourne's Darren Weir (1158) and Peter Snowden (1073).

By comparison, Bennett has only been training for five months, she has two horses in work and they have started in five races with the trainer's only winner a Gunnedah Maiden with Seebourn earlier this month.

Her stable earnings come to a princely sum of $13,200.

Bennett may have limited experience as a licensed trainer but she knows plenty about horses.

She grew up with them, riding show horses and playing polo cross.

"I've even done some camp drafting - I've had a go at just about everything,'' Bennett said.

"My Mum, who has never been on a horse, used to drive me miles and miles around the countryside taking me to shows and things. I still ride when I get time.''

She maintains there are certain principles that apply to all ``sporting'' horses.

"Basically, a horse's conformation is the same no matter what sport you are doing,' she said.

"Fitness is the main key. With show horses you have to have them muscled up and looking correct.

"The racehorse is the same but you are working them differently. As a trainer, you learn what to look for in your horses.

"I'm trying to learn what I can from these two and Star Of Octagonal has beray en good for me to learn from.

"He's an experienced racehorse and I think he's teaching me more than I'm teaching him.''

Despite having only Star Of Octagonal and Seebourn in her care, Bennett admits to being "time poor'' — but with good reason.

Bennett is also a qualified accountant and works full-time in the mining industry.

"My friends are always into me about never having any (spare) time,'' Bennett said.

"But I don't know what I would do if I had time, I'm just so busy.

"I always say racing is like a disease - once it is in your veins you can't get away from it.''

So, why has Bennett decided to juggle a full-time accountancy career with such a costly and time-consuming hobby as racehorse training?

She says her natural affinity with horses combined with a growing interest and understanding of racing has fuelled her ambitions.

"My husband James's grandfather, Kevin Hewitt, used to train at Singleton,'' she revealed.

"Before he passed away, I used to love going to the races with him. It has sort of grown from there.''

The trainer's day starts well before sunrise and usually includes a 40-minute drive to Cessnock racetrack where she puts Star Of Octagonal and Seebourn through their paces at trackwork.

Bennett then returns to her Singleton property where her two gallopers are placed in spacious paddocks before she leaves to start her ``day job'' at 8am.

"They are in a big yard, not in stables every day, they are out on the grass and get to be 'horses' — they love it,'' she added.

Star Of Octagonal, a rising eight-year-old with a race career punctuated by injury, also has a remarkable story.

The trainer's mother, Leanne Moore had a dream that she raced a son of 10-time Group 1 winner, champion Octagonal.

Moore's dream also provided her with a name for the horse — Star Of Octagonal.

At the 2008 Scone Yearling sales, Leanne Moore watched an Octagonal yearling walk into the ring and excitedly turned to her husband, Phil, and said: "That's the one.''

The Moore's secured the yearling they would name Star Of Octagonal for just $22,000

In a 27-start career so far, Star Of Octagonal has won five races (with eight placings) and earned more than $800,000 prizemoney.

Bennett was given Star Of Octagonal to train earlier this year and the gelding has had two starts for her, finishing last of seven behind Hot Snitzel in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick last month before another seventh placing in the 10-horse Luskin Star Stakes at the Scone stand-alone meeting two weeks ago.

Star Of Octagonal showed signs of ``ring rust'' in his first two starts back after a long break from racing but the veteran sprinter, winner of the 2010 Scone Guineas and 2012 Rowley Mile, is slowly regaining form and fitness.

"The track was too wet for him at Randwick but he had to have a start,'' Bennett said.

"I thought he hit the line quite well at Scone when obviously it was not his ideal distance.

"We are happy with him at home and he's working well on the track.

"We just don't want a wet track (tomorrow) because he doesn't handle those conditions.

"I always say to Dad we should charge an appearance fee to send him out west when we need rain.''

Bennett said Star Of Octagonal retains all the zest and enthusiasm for racing and training that you would find in a two-year-old.

"For a trainer, Star Of Octagonal is easy to do anything with because he loves what he does,'' Bennett said.

"He is part of the family now, he is s such a sweet `boy', he has the kindest nature.

"His eyes light up when you take him to the track and when I go to get him from the paddock every day, he is waiting at the gate for you.''

The trainer said the racing industry fosters a spirit of goodwill and appreciation from her colleagues.

When Seebourn, a three-year-old gelding by Sebring, scored in his maiden at Gunnedah on May 11, Bennett was swamped by well-wishers.

"There were jockeys and people I didn't even know coming up and congratulating me, saying well done,'' she said.

"I don't think you would get that in every sport.

"Everyone in this industry wants to help you, it is such a good environment — racing is like a little family.''

Bennett knows she is up against it tomorrow with Star Of Octagonal. The odds are against her.

But she is just starting her training career and success doesn't happen overnight. It took Chris Waller a decade of hard work to be in the position he is today as Australia's champion trainer.

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