By Glenn Davis
Chris Anderson’s bid to break into the top ten trainers in the Brisbane trainers’ premiership continues at Ipswich on Wednesday.
Anderson has five runners entered for Ipswich but is unlikely to start them all.
Anderson has been training for only seven years and is already regarded as one of Brisbane’s best young trainers.
The former publican and national beer brand manager trained 48 winners on metropolitan and provincial tracks last season including 12 metropolitan wins.
Anderson’s goal is to become a top three trainer and he’s happy with the progress made so far in such a short period.
“I’ve never cracked the top 10 yet but I hope to do so this season and my goal is to make the top five and then top three,” Anderson said.
“I started from scratch with one horse which was leased and I’ve never inherited a stable.”
With more than six months of the season remaining, Anderson is just one win short of equalling last season’s tally of city wins and could better his best haul if he trains a double at Ipswich.
Anderson has spent up big at yearling sales around the country over the past 12 months.
“I bought $1 million worth of yearlings last year at the Magic Millions sales at the Gold Coast and Adelaide as well as the Inglis Sales in Sydney and Melbourne and I’ll be at the Inglis sales again this week,” he said.
Anderson rates Yamazaki in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 65 Handicap (1710m) as the pick of his Ipswich team closely followed by Vaulting Ambition in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1710m).
Yamazaki was an impressive Class Two winner at Doomben on January 16 before a last start third against her own age group at the Sunshine Coast on Australia Day.
“She’s been very consistent but mentally and physically she’s still a preparation or two away from her best,” Anderson said.
“Her last run was very good when she came from last with 300 metres to go to run third.”
Anderson believes Yamazaki, a daughter of Real Saga out of the Stakes placed mare Wabeel, will measure up to better class in the city on a Saturday.
Anderson also likes Vaulting Ambition’s chances following the gelding’s last start win at the Sunshine Coast last month.
“He goes into this race off a solid win at the Sunshine Coast last start and this looks the right race for him,” he said.
“I think Garifullina is not without some hope either in the Maiden.
“He should have won at the Gold Coast last start but it was unfortunate when he was trapped three wide.”
Racing Queensland webnews February 5