Two-year-olds remain an anomaly in the remarkable rise of champion trainer Chris Waller.
He has taken Australian racing by storm in the past decade winning 62 group 1 races but only two of those they been with juveniles. His style of developing horses rather than firing them up for quick returns means it is not until the later part of the season that his babies emerge.
Waller is never in a rush to get his horses to the track and it pays off. This season he has had 15 group 1 winners but only seven juvenile successes and has, in fact, had more runners at the top level than two-year-olds starters.
His philosophy pays off with his horses hitting their straps as three-year-olds, 104 of his 260 wins coming from that age group this term.
But as the season draws to a close Waller rolls out his two-year-old team at Rosehill on Saturday with four last-start winners in the opener, led by the impressive Foxplay.
"Foxplay is the benchmark of the group," Waller said. "I think this group of horses will win 15 or more races between them in their careers. This is only a starting point.
"It is not ideal to have four in the same race but that's how it falls.
"They have all won a race and it is the next step for them. We are looking to walk away from Saturday with one very happy owner, hopefully, and a few others who will see the potential of their horses as three-year-olds.
"They all only going to get better and it is how things work in our stable."
Foxplay will carry topweight of 58 kilograms after her commanding win at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago and Waller resisted the chance to claim with the Foxwedge filly, booking Blake Shinn knowing she is destined for bigger races..
"It is a bit of weight and we could have claimed two kilos with an apprentice but why when you have the best riders in the world in the room," Waller said. "Hugh [Bowman] rode her last time and thought she was a really nice filly and it will be interesting to see what Blake thinks.
"She has improved since that win and, with her, what you see is what you get. Even with the weight she stands out."
Waller's support acts have all won on the Beaumont track at Newcastle this month. Octavian Augustus and Awoke were debut winners but it was High Mist, wearing blinkers for the first time, which flew home from last for an enormous win.
"I think he could develop into a Spring Champion type of horse being a High Chaparral," Waller said. "He was able to win at 1150 metres at Newcastle and will really appreciate getting to the 1400.
"These are horses to follow in the future and have all shown enough to suggest that as three-year-olds they will be very good."
