For Australian racing titan Chris Waller, the allure of Royal Ascot is intertwined with more than just the prestigious turf; it's a tapestry woven with legendary horses like Winx and Nature Strip, and a remarkable personal connection with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The renowned trainer, who has dominated Australian racing for years, shared an anecdote about the unexpected joy of entertaining Queen Elizabeth II's corgis during a lunch, highlighting the unique intersection of sport and society.

A Queen's Affection for a Champion

Waller's relationship with Queen Elizabeth II transcended typical trainer-owner dynamics. Her Majesty developed a profound admiration for Winx, widely considered Australia's greatest racehorse, who concluded her career with an astonishing 33 consecutive victories.

In a fitting tribute to their bond, Waller presented the Queen with one of Winx's shoes from her final race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick in 2019. This deep connection was evident when Waller was among a select few Australians invited to the Queen's funeral following her passing in 2022.

Nature Strip's Royal Ascot Triumph

Just months before the Queen's passing, Waller achieved a career milestone at Royal Ascot, clinching his first victory there with Nature Strip in the King's Stand Stakes. The win, a pinnacle for the Australian trainer, was a moment of profound emotion.

Recounting the experience, Waller stated, “It was straight after the race, I got ushered into a room and basically told, ‘Her Majesty would like to speak to you’,” Waller tells Idol Horse . “She wasn’t well, but she called. “That was pretty amazing. In a nutshell, that’s how special the week can be and how lucky we are to be involved in a globally recognised sport. She just loved life, different sports, Australia, people and she had a very special love of (horse racing).”

Waller's Unrelenting Drive and Australian Success

Arriving in Sydney with minimal resources over two decades ago, Chris Waller has built a formidable empire in horse racing through sheer dedication and meticulous planning. His relentless work ethic is legendary, often seeing him poring over data in the press room.

Now in his 50s, Waller is on track to shatter Australian training records, having surpassed 200 Group 1 wins and is nearing the tallies of racing icons Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings. His continued dominance is evident in his approaching 16th consecutive training premiership and the remarkable A$50 million-plus earnings for his horses this season.

Joliestar's Global Ambitions

Despite his Australian success, Waller has set his sights on Royal Ascot again with Joliestar, who is favored to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. While Royal Ascot hasn't always been a primary focus due to travel considerations for his horses and differing prize money structures, Waller acknowledges the prestige.

“You might be half hearted about certain ideas, but when you get that taste, you want it,” Waller explains. “I thought the same about the Melbourne Cup for a long time. We had a few runners and never really got into it much. Then one year we ran fourth and then I said, ‘hello, this is winnable, this race’.”

He sees a Royal Ascot victory for Joliestar as a chance for global recognition. "If Joliestar happened to win, she’s recognised globally forever,” Waller states. “She deserves that opportunity because she’s in the mature years of her career. She’s showing that in her form, and she’s unbeaten this preparation. She’s racing consistently so she deserves that opportunity. She’s consistently raced the best sprinters in Australia. She hasn’t always beaten them, but often there’s been a reason: a track condition, a barrier, or luck in running. Her maturity now is overcoming those challenges.”