Wide-eyed Kiwi youngster follows in big footsteps with Waller Busy team: Chris Waller puts faith in Kiwi Chris Dell. New Zealand apprentice Chris Dell has plotted an unusual career course, which has led to the Chris Waller yard on a two-week scholarship given by the Auckland Racing Club. The 20-year-old Dell is only 18 months into his apprenticeship after finishing his schooling and choosing riding over university. "I actually got good enough grades to go to uni but once horses are in your blood they take over," Dell said. I started riding as an amateur then did a bit of highweight riding and over jumps. I decided I wanted to give it a go professionally, so I got my weight down and got an apprenticeship. Dell has ridden 63 winners in New Zealand and follows in the footsteps of Jason and Alysha Collett, who are previous winners of the scholarship and have parlayed it into a Sydney career. "It is a great opportunity for me because you dream of riding in Sydney," Dell said. I have only been here a couple of days and it is amazing to be a part of Chris Waller's operation. He has so many horses and they are worked by 7.30 in the morning. The systems are so good it just works - I don't know how. Dell, who rides at 54 kilograms and can still claim 3kg in Sydney but only 1½ kilograms at provincials, hopes to step on to the city stage when he rides Relaxed And Happy in the opener at Rosehill on Saturday. Waller, as he has done with the Collett siblings, will give Dell opportunities to show off his talent. He has already impressed. "He is a good communicator and a very good rider," Waller said. The manager for the owner of Relaxed And Happy [Bruce Sherwin] is from New Zealand and when he got the big weight we asked him if Chris could ride him. He was very happy to put him on because he rates him as a 1kg claimer rather than three. He thought it was an advantage to have him on the horse, which is a good sign. Dell will also ride Firebolt for the Waller yard and has picked up the outside rides for Angela Davies on She's A Stalker and Forty Thirty for Clinton McDonald after riding at Gosford and Kembla during the week. "My manager has done a good job to get me on some good chances," Dell said. I thought it might be a bit hard but the first two, Relaxed And Happy and She's A Stalker, look like my best rides. Meanwhile, Waller continues his pursuit of the Sydney metropolitan wins record of 156 held by Gai Waterhouse and Tommy Smith with 17 acceptors at Rosehill. He also will chase black type in Brisbane with Moriarty in the Eagle Farm Cup and Boban in the Queensland Guineas. "It is kind of like three weeks ago, we have chances all day," Waller said. If things go right we could have a few winners.