Waller and J-Mac ready to strike with Tron Bolt before UK campaign

Premier Sydney combination Chris Waller and James McDonald have given Tron Bolt votes of confidence for the JJ Atkins as they look to build on their record-breaking seasons before heading to the UK.

Waller has broken his Australian record for group 1 training wins in a season, rising to 21, while McDonald has equalled Malcolm Johnston’s riding mark of 16.

They combine in group 1s at Eagle Farm on Saturday with Tron Bolt in the mile race for two-year-olds and with Fangirl for the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

Waller has three runners in the JJ Atkins, headed by favourite Tron Bolt ($2.15), which is coming off dominant wins on the Kensington track and Rosehill. Nash Rawiller rides Stormy Marco ($12), which won at Hawkesbury then was eighth in the Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm. Glenorchy (Tim Clark, $8) is backing up off second in the listed Phoenix at Eagle Farm.

“He’s a really professional horse,” Waller said of Tron Bolt.

“He can race forward, he can race back, he can handle the wet ... so he might need that on Saturday, so he’s well placed.

“He’s going into the race full of confidence, whereas Stormy Marco did run in the Sires and had no luck. Going into a good race, like that, especially with a baby, you like to have winning form.”

Waller indicated McDonald was also confident about Tron Bolt, which has gate nine, despite a push from the jockey’s brother-in-law, Andrew Mallyon, for Stormy Marco.

“Andrew Mallyon rode him and said it would be very, very hard to beat. I told that to James and he said, ‘No, I’ll still ride Tron Bolt’.

“Both horses have worked well. We’ll learn a lot about them, and with a trouble-free run, hopefully they’ll be right in the finish.

“Glenorchy, his first up run was good. He hasn’t drawn very well, but outside of the top four, five, the field drops away, but, so I think he’ll run.”

McDonald was also pushing the claims of Fangirl ($6.50), which finished off well for third in the group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) last start.

“It was never really our intention to run [in the Stradbroke], but when James got off the other day and said we should run her, we spoke to the owners, and they’re keen,” Waller said.

“It’s a big prize money race, whereas if she was going to spell and get ready for the Winx Stakes, Autumn Glow will be in the Winx Stakes, so we’re running for $3 million instead of the Winx Stakes, and she might still run in the Winx Stakes.

“She’s got a big weight, which they tell me is hard to win with, but she doesn’t know that, and she’s just going great.

“He’s really well and he’s got a light wei