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Gai & Adrian TV 12th September 2025

Bellazaine returns to the races at Flemington on Saturday to contest the $175k Listed 3 Year Old Fillies Cap D’Antibes Stakes over 1100 metres with jockey Regan Bayliss booked to ride.

Playing By The Rules

Emma Reeves aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend.  Gerringong, Saturday 13th September, Flemington, Race 5: This is an anti ‘playing by the rules’ but the purpose of this piece is to explain why we do what we do, and I thought this was the most interesting case study this week. At the start of this preparation, Gerringong had placed in Stakes grade in 50% of her lifetime starts without ever winning one. In each of those three races she’s rocketed home from back in the field, so she’s arguably been unlucky not to have won. This has done her rating no favours though, and she was allotted 84 and 86 in Sydney. Our options were to race the boys in a benchmark 88, or step straight back into Stakes grade where she’s poorly weighted. At this time of year, those benchmark races tend to be full of horses preparing to step into Stakes company, and the golden carrot of more Black Type for this mare was too good to pass up. Given that she was going to be poorly weighted, we wanted to target Melbourne mares races which have historically been more winnable, and she was superb first up when beaten 1.5 lengths by multiple Group 1 winner Magic Time, with only a 3kg difference in weight. On Saturday we had the option of the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes over 1400 metres against the girls, or the Listed Tontonan Stakes over the same distance against the boys. Based on the nominations, she rated almost identically in both. In Melbourne you cannot accept in two races, but you can see who is accepting in each race. My initial thoughts were that you go to the Group 2 against the girls if an equal chance in both, but we monitored the acceptances right to the wire and noticed that all the dangers accepted in the mares race, and none accepted in the Tontonan. So we did a swift 180 and accepted there. She’s never raced over 1400 metres and we felt that was the missing link last preparation, but the races simply weren’t available to her. She’s carrying 5.5kg more than her true weight and racing the boys, but maybe rules are made to be broken.

Gai's Tip Sheet

WEDNESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER - CANTERBURYRail Position: +6M Entire SHANGRI LA BOY (Race 2, 2:10pm, 1250m, A Hyeronimus, 57kg)Shangri La Boy is delighting us ahead of his first career start. He’s matured into a lovely three year old, and his two trials this time in have been vastly improved so it goes to show that he’s blossomed with a bit of time and patience. 1250 metres is a lovely starting point for him as we felt he’d be slightly vulnerable over a shorter distance, and he’s drawn well in barrier 5 so we expect Adam to be able to roll forward from there to control the race to suit himself from the front. Canterbury’s a unique track but we have a lot of success there, and with a dry weather forecast track conditions should be extremely fair come race day. He’s conceding experience to some horses that have demonstrated well above average ability thus far, so this isn’t going to be easy and he’s likely to improve as he gets out over slightly further in time. However, he’s fit and knows his job, so we expect him to give a strong kick and take plenty of catching in the run to the line.WEDNESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER - BENDIGORail Position: TrueLILAC GIRL (Race 4, 2:55pm, 1500m, T Nugent, 56kg)Lilac Girl didn’t show the improvement we hoped to see second-up at Seymour. However, it was a very heavy track and she was punching the breeze in the run so again we’re prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt. This further step up to 1500 metres is a positive, and the drying track will also see her in a better light too. She’s still quite immature as she’s such a big filly, and she certainly needs everything in her favour if she’s to give this a shake. However, she’s drawn well in barrier 6 and Teo will let her land where she’s comfortable and hopefully enjoy an economical run in transit so that she can show something at the business end of the contest.THURSDAY 18th SEPTEMBER - KEMBLARail Position: +3M EntireSWITZ (Race 3, 2:55pm, 1500m, R Bayliss, 56kg)Switz was a bit plain first-up over 1200 metres at this track, beating just one rival home. However, we subsequently found mucus in his lungs so this may have been ailing him, and he’s open to plenty of improvement second-up with that now resolved and stretching out to a much more suitable 1500 metres. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1, so Regan should be able to flow forward from there to take control of the race and dictate terms to suit himself and we've put a tongue tie on to assist his breathing which has the potential to bring about improvement. He needs to lift but he’s capable of doing so under more suitable conditions, and a forward showing would come as no surprise.

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Stable Spotlight

We Are Hiring

Exciting career opportunities await you at one of Australia’s most iconic racing stables 

SENIOR ACCOUNTS MANAGER
In this role, you’ll play a vital part in keeping the financial wheels turning behind the scenes of a fast-paced, high-profile stable. From managing payroll and reconciling accounts to liaising with racing bodies and overseeing prizemoney distributions, your work will directly support the day-to-day operations of a leading trainer.  

Read the full job description here.

HR, PEOPLE & CULTURE MANAGER
This is more than just a HR role, it’s an opportunity to shape a workplace culture that supports high achievement, strong relationships and day-to-day excellence in a fast-moving, high-performance environment. You’ll be the go-to person for our team, ensuring every individual feels supported, empowered and part of something exceptional.

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Send your CV and cover letter to enquiries@gaiwaterhouse.com.au
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HORSES AVAILABLE

Extreme Warrior/Red Sista '23

This colt is the first yearling by EXTREME WARRIOR to be offered at auction, making him an exciting prospect for buyers. Extreme Warrior is the highest-rated 3YO colt by EXTREME CHOICE, a stallion who has quickly established himself as a sire of champions. A stakes performer at two and a Group-winning star at three, he hails from the first crop of the highly sought-after Extreme Choice, who has already produced Golden Slipper winner STAY INSIDE and boasts an exceptional 18.5% stakes winner-to-runner ratio. His dam, RED SIESTA (by DEEP FIELD), was a winner over 1000m and brings further strength to his pedigree. She is the granddaughter of NORTHERN METEOR, the influential broodmare sire of Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner COMMUNIST. Coming from the same family as Australian Champion 2YO MOSSFUN, this athletic and flashy colt has all the makings of a future star. He is sure to be an exciting new addition to Gai and Adrian’s stable.

Ole Kirk/Apicius '23

Don't miss this exceptional filly by Australia's current leading Champion First Season Sire, Ole Kirk, who dominates across all key metrics. Her dam is by the legendary Champion Sire Redoute's Choice and has already proven her broodmare prowess by producing a Stakes-winning 2YO from her very first foal to race. This filly hails from one of the most active and successful female families in Australia, boasting an impressive 15 commercially bred fillies within her first five dams. Adding further pedigree power, her first three dam sires are all Champions, Redoute's Choice, Lonhro, and Encosta De Lago. Excitingly, this filly is bred on the exact same potent cross as Group 3 Pago Pago Stake winner, Skyhook.This is a rare opportunity to invest in a filly with strong residual value.

Wild Ruler/Pearl Congenial '23

This colt is by WILD RULER, a top-class sprinter who proved his talent by winning at 2, 3, and 4. A son of the legendary SNITZEL, Wild Ruler burst onto the scene with a debut victory in the Inglis Nursery, a key race in the Inglis Race Series, now boasting a $400,000 purse. He went on to dominate multiple Group races, including the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint, Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes, and ultimately, the prestigious Group 1 Moir Stakes. His dam, PEARL CONGENIAL, is a dual-winning, stakes-placed mare who has already produced 2 winners. His pedigree is rich with Group success, featuring the likes of SUPER SETH, the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner, and WILD PLANET, both of whom have amassed over $1M in prize money. A fantastic colt with an elite sprinting pedigree and a proven winning family, he was a standout for the team and ranked among our top picks at the Inglis Premier sale.

Home Affairs/Champagne Cuddles '23

This brilliant filly was our absolute ‘MUST BUY’ yearling at Magic Millions. She is by HOME AFFAIRS, the fastest son of I AM INVINCIBLE and one of the most exciting first-season sires in the country. A top-class Group 2-winning 2YO sprinter, he was also exceptional at 3, claiming prestigious Group 1 victories in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington. Home Affairs made headlines as the sire of the highest-priced yearling ever sold at this sale, fetching $3.2 million on day four. This filly is the third foal out of her dam, CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES, a multiple Group-winning NOT A SINGLE DOUBT mare who was sold as a broodmare for an impressive $2 million. Her second dam, SKY CUDDLE, was a Group 1 winner, further solidifying this filly’s exceptional pedigree. Her first foal, the 2YO filly Bottle Of Shells, is trained by Gai and Adrian and she has already shown great natural ability. Beyond her remarkable pedigree, this sharp, flashy filly, a twin to her mother, earned Gai’s highest grade. With her deep girth, balanced walk, and strong hindquarters, she quickly won us over. 

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