Yonkers the pick of the Chris Waller trio in the 2021 Wagga Gold Cup

Waller has become the dominant force of the Wagga Gold Cup, winning three of the past seven editions of the feature race.

This year, he will send a three-pronged attack headed by $3.30 favourite Yonkers.

Albury Gold Cup second placegetter The Lord Mayor is also Wagga-bound, with fellow import He Runs Away rounding out the trio.

Yonkers was an impressive last-start winner at Caulfield and the stable believe he is their leading chance at Wagga on Friday.

"I'd imagine Yonkers, just on the back of his last start win," Chris Waller's assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, said.

"He was really good. We've had a bit of checkered past with him, in terms of just his whole career, we've just struggled to work out whether he's a 2000 metre horse or a 2400 metre horse because he always looks like he's going to stay a little bit.

"I think we saw last start that he is better sticking to that 2000 metre journey. He's obviously the pick but barrier 15, it's not easy."

Yonkers has been in Australia for a couple of years now but is still somewhat of a work in progress.

Duckworth believes there is still upside to Yonkers, highlighted by his last-start win by more than four lengths.

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"I think he does, I think we've just taken longer to work him out than we probably should have," Duckworth said.

"I think if you look at his last four runs, he's had two runs over 2000 in which he has won both and run fourth twice over 2400. He just doesn't stay beyond 2000. But every time he wins over 2000, he wins running away and you think I can't wait to see him over 2400 and then he fails.

"He's probably the clear pick but is going to need a little bit of luck."

Waller started his training in Australia in Wagga and the city holds special meaning to him. His stable has become a regular presence at the Gold Cup and rate the Wagga carnival highly.

"I think out of all the country cups it holds the most weight out of all of them really," Duckworth said.

"With Wagga being a breeding ground for a lot of city jocks and things like that, and obviously we've got a few horses for Richard Pegum and that's his local cup, it's always been entrenched in us that we must try to win the Wagga Cup at all costs.

"So it's one we like to try and take out if we can."

Duckworth said little separated The Lord Mayor and He Runs Away.

"I suppose your second pick is probably The Lord Mayor a fraction over He Runs Away, just because he's so fit," he said.

"He's competing in those races against horses that were going for Sydney Cups and things like that and wasn't disgraced. He's had a long prep but he's an older boy and he's tough and hardy and obviously Tommy (Berry), I don't think there's anyone riding better in Sydney than him at the moment is there?"

Duckworth loves the fact He Runs Away is a real winner. The import has won four of his last seven starts.

"He's only second up for the prep but what he did last prep was unbelievable," he said.

"You can see in just his last nine runs that he's got four wins, two seconds and a third.

"His first up run (this preparation) was on the Kenso and I think there were plenty of excuses. We claimed off him to get him a nice soft time and just give him a nice first run back but he's fit enough to be running really well and he'll have to do no work from the draw.

"He'll camp three or four pairs back and Jason is a good pick up rider."

Jason Collett has landed the ride on He Runs Away after the scratching of High Opinion.

Damien Thornton will come all the way to Wagga for potentially the one ride on Yonkers, while Tommy Berry will be aboard The Lord Mayor.

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