Chris Waller won his first Melbourne Cup 'on the couch at home'. He's hungry for this time to be different
Chris Waller is undoubtedly one of the faces of Australian racing - but his first victory in the Lexus Melbourne Cup came in "unique" circumstances.
The champion trainer, who has established himself as the country's best, will have five chances in this year's 3200m feature race at Flemington.
Buckaroo and Land Legend are both rated strong hopes with bookies, while Kovalica is also in the mix and is well overdue for a breakthrough victory.
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Waller's only other triumph in the race that stops the nation came in 2021, but the trainer was forced to watch legendary mare Verry Elleegant fly past her rivals from his own home due to COVID restrictions at the time.
James McDonald celebrates after steering Verry Elleegant to victory. Getty
"Winning our first Melbourne Cup was on the couch at home … it's a unique experience, that's for sure," he told media on Monday.
"I'd say 10 seconds after the horse is past the post, the phone starts ringing and it doesn't stop for a number of days.
"I've seen the media scrums here at Flemington and the All Blacks would be proud of it, they all get around you and there's a lucky person in front of the cameras and microphones delivering the amazing story.
"It's quite unique and it's one of sport's great moments."
Waller has achieved everything there is to achieve in racing, but the New Zealand-born trainer is still hungry for more success.
He kicked off the Melbourne Cup Carnival with a stellar day on Saturday, taking out the Empire Rose Stakes with Atishu and Coolmore Stud Stakes with Switzerland.
Watch the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival on Nine and 9Now!
According to Waller, so much of his continued success comes back to what he gained out of his first Cup victory three years ago.
"Having won a Melbourne Cup before, it's one of those races that gives you so much confidence and satisfaction," he said.
Chris Waller is chasing the second Melbourne Cup win of his career. Getty
"You will be asked 'have you won the Melbourne Cup' for the rest of your life and having won it, it has given me a little bit of confidence.
"I think you can often over-train a team, whether it be footy or any sport … if you haven't been there before, you can tend to over-try and over-analyse.
"You just tend to back off and it puts a little bit less pressure on the horses as well.
"Having won a Melbourne Cup before, that's the type of approach we've used."