Chris Waller is the new trainer of ex Michael Nolan-trained filly Hinged

Chris Waller’s new acquisition Hinged is likely to be targeted at the Group 1 Flight Stakes in Sydney this spring, but former trainer Michael Nolan believes the promising filly could also be an ideal type for next year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

Hinged won five from seven starts for Toowoomba trainer Nolan and breeder/owner, retired dentist Dr Kim McCasker.

Nolan and McCasker have long been a winning team with many top horses but former star sprinter and 1999 Group 1 Doomben 10,000 winner Laurie’s Lottery remains the pick of the bunch.

Nolan was set to give Hinged, the winner of her last three, a spell before bringing the newly-turned three-year-old back to target the summer carnival in Queensland.

However a southern ownership syndicate, including prominent owner Brae Sokolski, made an offer to McCasker which was accepted and Hinged has now been transferred to Waller in Sydney.

Hinged takes out the opener from Doomben to make it 3 on the trot for @mgnolan65 ? pic.twitter.com/xVwAB5tt1u

Hinged is likely to race for the first time for Waller in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty (1400m) in Sydney on August 28 with the ultimate aim of the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) on October 2.

She also holds a nomination for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield (1600m) on October 13.

Nolan believes that whatever Hinged does this spring, she could potentially be even better in her following campaign and over more ground.

Waller has won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks three times, including with Winx in 2015, and Nolan believes the champion trainer could have his latest Oaks contender on his hands.

“I think Hinged will stay, she would get 2000(m) tomorrow and I think there is every chance she will get 2400(m) and she could measure up as an Oaks horse next year for sure,” Nolan said.

“Not many two-year-olds can do what she did in a short period of time.

“She went through the grades so quickly and just kept improving.

“Her latest win in town (by 3.75 lengths at Doomben on July 24) was just so effortless for her.

“I am positive that she has got a very bright future.”

Hinged in action. Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside PhotographySource:Supplied

The move to buy Hinged, made by Sokolski and his syndicate, came not long after he also part-purchased another Toowoomba-trained star, Incentivise.

Incentivise, the favourite for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups after a series of blistering winter carnival wins for Steve Tregea, is now in Victoria under the care of Peter Moody and expected to be ridden by Glen Boss in a big spring carnival mission.

Nolan was disappointed to lose Hinged but also understands the business of racing.

Toowoomba trainer Michael Nolan.Source:News Regional Media

He is great mates with McCasker and has an unnamed two-year-old filly in his stable who is a full sister to Hinged.

“Hinged went out to the paddock after she won at Doomben and she was just going for a break,” Nolan explains.

“But Kim runs his horses strictly as a business and the amount of money he was offered for Hinged, he simply couldn’t knock back.

“I think Kim kept 10 per cent of her.

“While it is disappointing for me to lose a horse of her quality, all is not lost as Kim still owns the mare (Tints) and I have a two-year-old full sister to Hinged.”

Originally published asChris Waller scores a rising star filly from Queensland

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