Chris Waller - "Watt The ####?"

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   PREMIER trainer Chris Waller was “furious’’ when he discovered a website had been set up in his name — and without his knowledge — by leading syndicator Dean Watt.
The astonishing news emerged yesterday as Watt fronted a stewards inquiry to explain why he had established another website for Triple Crown Syndications, a direct competitor which was also caught by surprise.
Triple Crown’s website carried a link which redirected traffic to Watt’s own company, Dynamic Syndications. The site has since been shut down.
It was also revealed during the three-hour hearing that Watt had registered domain names for trainers, jockeys, auction houses and rival syndicators, a legal act known as “cybersquatting’’.
Chief steward Ray Murrihy adjourned the matter to decide if he accepted Watt’s explanation for the Triple Crown saga, or would charge him.
Watt, one of the most recognisable and successful syndicators in Australia, claimed he had done nothing illegal, and was protecting his intellectual property.
He said Triple Crown’s website was not dedicated to his competitor, but a reference to the racing term ‘Triple Crown’, a series he wanted his syndicated horses to target.
During the hearing Murrihy revealed Waller — like Triple Crown — wasn’t impressed when he discovered a website in his stable’s name.
The site carried photos of Waller, and invited punters to race horses with the Rosehill horseman.

Chief steward Ray Murrihy has revealed trainer Chris Waller wasn’t impressed when he discovered a website in his stable’s name last year. Source: News Limited
Waller and Watt have quickly moved on from the matter, and continue to race horses together. They’ll saddle up Perplexity at Warwick Farm this afternoon.
Last September, however, Waller said in an email to Watt, which was read out by Murrihy yesterday: “I’m furious you have used a website to impersonate me and my stable ... I haven’t yet engaged legal help on this situation, however, if you take don’t take it down, I will be forced to start down that path.’’
Murrihy said there was a link on the website, which invited would-be buyers to send an email to inquire about a horse. A Waller employee sent an email from a “hoax account’’, only to receive a reply from Watt’s son, Adam Watt.
Adam Watt, who was also at the inquiry, pointed out he was only advertising horses available with Waller.
“It was a goodwill gesture created to benefit both of us,’’ Dean Watt said, before he added he should have got the green light from Waller in the first place.
Watt then asked Murrihy why he had dredged up the issue when he kept quiet six months ago.
“Because it might show a pattern,’’ Murrihy said.
Triple Crown, who had their first Group 1 winner in Peggy Jean this month — the filly is favourite for tomorrow’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes — were represented at the inquiry by co-director Mike Ward, who said he stumbled across the Triple Crown website in February.