It’s not unusual for the Chris Waller training juggernaut to dominate a black type middle distance feature close to spring, but the big surprise might be one of his less fancied runners stealing the show.

The Waller stable accepted for eight runners in Thursday’s Listed feature Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury in what looms as an intriguing betting race.

Ironically, though, it was the first of two Joe Pride-trained runners – tough seven-year-old Estadio Mestalla – who opened a wide $5.00 favourite to claim a seventh career win at his 30th start.

And in a race seemingly with many each way chances, Waller’s charges were even behind Victorian raider Coco Sun who sat on the second line of betting around $6.50.

But parked on the early $7.00 line was the most fascinating of his runners, seven-year-old mare River Of Stars, returning for her first start since a fighting third in the Group 1 Sydney Cup over two miles in mid-April.

A staying type who will naturally be set for much longer trips in spring, River Of Stars – who narrowly missed winning a Group 1 in Europe before he was sold Down Under – resumes off two typical improving trials on rain-affected ground.

Yet it’s a less-heralded stablemate, priced at around $12.00 in early betting, who can upset the lot.

Etna Rosso, a sparingly raced six-year-old gelding, also resumes but with a little more residual fitness on his side after a progressive campaign in Queensland.

He finished hard to be beaten just over a length in the Group 3 Premier Cup at Eagle Farm in late May before again running home to claim all but the winner in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup over 3200m.