King Charles has been taking an interest in the training of his only racehorse in Australia, Chalk Stream, writing to his handler Chris Waller in the wake of his recent victory.
Last month Chalk Stream delivered the King’s biggest success since he inherited the royal string from the late Queen Elizabeth when he won a Listed race on Australia Day.
The Queen had 57 Flat and jumps horses in training last year and while the numbers have been cut back since she passed away in September, Waller said the King was very much engaged with what was going on with his horses.
Australia’s champion trainer Waller, best known as the trainer of superstar mare Winx and Royal Ascot-winning sprinter Nature Strip, was addressing the Asian Racing Conference which is being held in Melbourne, where he was a guest speaker.
“He sent a beautiful email post win, and it was great that he engaged, and he’s aware of what’s going on,” Waller revealed, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The horse had a problem with the barriers and the guy who was re-educating the horse, Dan Robinson, was sending us information, and he loved it.
“It really helped him engage with what was going on, and what a horse and ownership is all about.”
There have been seven winners in the royal colours since the King became an owner, six of them on the Flat.
The King’s only jumps winner Steal A March is set to become his first runner at the Cheltenham Festival with trainer Nicky Henderson planning to run him in the Pertemps Final on the third day of the meeting.
