TJ's tactics recalled as Chris Waller's success fires up the chatroom The King and the master: Tommy Smith checks on Kingston Town, ridden by Malcolm Johnston. Photo: Fairfax Archive Give me a good horse and I'll make it great, chanted the late Tommy Smith, a philosophy Chris Waller, today's training phenomenon, is following. It's a hot topic in the wake of the recent announcement Waller would take over Perth galloper Mr Moet and perhaps the pick of the litter left by the trainer, tipped to be John O'Shea, who will take the Darley position vacated by Peter Snowden. If you consider his success with imports and other top-liners, Waller has built his reputation mainly on the groundwork of others. Perhaps Smith had glory days with Redcraze, which started with Syd Brown, and Gunsynd, taken from Bill Whelow in Queensland, but the master of Tulloch Lodge educated and graduated a couple of handy champions, Tulloch and Kingston Town. Recently Waller has waved his magic wand, possibly in the form of the gelder's blade, over Boban, successful in the Epsom-Emirates double after he spent time with Anthony Freedman as a colt. However, three-year-old sprint sensation Zoustar carried the "W" brand throughout his development stage, and Red Tracer, which triumphed in the group 1 Myer Classic at Flemington last month, was another example of his expertise or that of what he calls "systems." Alas, the Mr Moet transfer was not greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm by rank-and-file turf enthusiasts on Racenet, nor is Waller's impact on Sydney generally. Maybe this was compounded by a winless Saturday at Rosehill last week followed by a Canterbury wipeout on Wednesday. For a normal top trainer, two skinners would be more the norm than exception, but with a winner flow stopping so abruptly for the affable New Zealander, eyebrows are being raised. "Gee, there are a lot of Waller haters out there and the main reason he has multiple runners in Sydney is because the VRC won't give him any more boxes [at Flemington] and 10 is not enough," opined one poster. I can also say he is all about getting a return for his owners, not leaving them [horses] at home, and Mr Moet is not the only big name to join the stable ...  Waller has stable accommodation for 135 horses at Rosehill; Darley has more in and around Sydney, while Gai Waterhouse has more than a 100 at Randwick. "I am a punter and I am not a fan of Waller for what he is doing to Sydney racing," wrote Right Said Fred. The betting product is poorer for him ... Why does he get an extraordinary amount of free publicity? But my issue lies with the tactics from the multiple stable runners, it is horrendous at times ... Obviously media exposure comes with success. Smith always said he received newspaper space free while David Jones and department stores paid a fortune. But he always had a story: he played the headline game. "No doubt his [the Waller] stable is doing well, and I applaud him for that, but personally, the guy has little idea which of his numerous starters in the same race have the best shot," Schillaci moaned. So many times I have heard interviews with the man across different medium to declare certain starters as the best chances only to find his other, less-supported chances topple his chosen ones. It could be argued there is little between the Waller horses in some events and luck in running plays a role. Spittles, too, had a viewpoint. Seems like people talking through their pockets who have no luck backing Chris Waller, and if you can't find a Waller winner you definitely should give up the punt. The trainer will test punters on the Kensington circuit at Randwick on Saturday where he has three acceptors in five races, four in another and one in two events. Not even Smith had such numbers. At one stage, the Australian Jockey Club considered limiting his starters in a race. "This bloke makes good trainers look like mugs," Macca enthused regarding Waller, but Smith would have beamed at the accolade. Unlike Waller, modesty was not his strong point. Just how long can the Waller domination in Sydney last? "People fall from grace, look at Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods recently," Pedro wrote. What goes around comes around, it's just a matter of time before the world changes and maybe this is just Waller's time to shine. He may be back in NZ next year ...  I'll take even money he'll open a satellite on Mars before he returns to New Zealand. Smith's policy on taking horses from other stables? Let your sheep out and I'll round them up.