Gai's Tip Sheet
FRIDAY 13th MARCH - KEMBLARail Position: TrueFEMININO, Race 7, 1600m, 5.20pm, T Clark, 55kgFeminino is thriving ahead of this run. She was fantastic when breaking her maiden at Warwick Farm in early February, and two horses that finished behind her have since come out and won their maidens so the form is stacking up nicely. We’ve been patient with her since and given her some time which has paid dividends, as she’s carrying fantastic condition and looks a picture ahead of this outing. Her recent tick over trial has served its purpose in keeping her fit between runs, so she couldn’t be going into this in better shape. This is a big step up in grade, but she’s progressive and she’s going to relish stretching out to the mile third-up. She handles sting out of the ground which is another positive, as the track’s rated a Soft 7 at the time of writing so even if it dries out throughout the day, it’s still likely to be in the soft range. Tim is a natural go forward jockey so we expect her to be able to roll forward and get across to slot in and settle in the first half of the field. This is always a fiercely competitive race but she’s got the right credentials leading into it, and with further improvement to come we see no reason why she won’t rise to the challenge and make her presence known at the finish. FRIDAY 13th MARCH - KYNETONRail Position: +2M EntireYAUSON, Race 2, 1459m, 1.45pm, W Gordon, 59kgYauson is delighting us ahead of his first start. His trials and jumpouts have been excellent, and he’s improved with each experience. 1459 metres is a lovely starting point for him because he’s a horse who’s going to get out over a staying trip in time, and he’d be outpaced over anything shorter. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1, so his rider will be positive from there to make the most of this position and try to roll forward and dictate the race to suit himself. This is a very suitable race for him en route to bigger and better things, and we expect him to be right there at the finish.SATURDAY 14th MARCH - CAULFIELDRail Position: +9M EntireMISS CHANEL, Race 7, 1200m, 3.40pm, J Childs, 56kgMiss Chanel was no match for the impressive winner at Randwick last weekend, however she bounced back to something near her best to finish a very creditable third and gained further Black Type in the process. She’s since travelled down to Melbourne where she’s taken everything in her stride, and she’s such a professional filly so her attitude is taking her a long way. This race represents a new test for her racing in the opposite direction, however we think she’s got the professionalism and tractability to cope with it. Jordan will be positive from barrier 11 to try and work across into a more favourable inside position, but there's only one turn in this race so it should be doable. Caulfield can be a tricky track, but she’s a well-balanced filly who should be able to adjust to its demands. This is a competitive enough race as you’d expect for the money on offer, but of all the exposed form hers is probably the strongest so if she can adapt to the quick backup and racing the reverse way we think it’ll take a good one to beat her. SATURDAY 14th MARCH - ROSEHILLRail Position: TrueBY CHOICE, Race 3, 1200m, 1.40pm, T Clark, 56.5kgBy Choice ran yet another genuine race when finishing a terrific third at Randwick last time. She’s such an honest filly who tries so hard in her races, and she’s a pleasure to have in the stable. This is a lovely race for her against her own sex once again, and she had many of them behind her in the Sweet Embrace which gives us confidence. She’s drawn well in barrier 4 so Tim should be able to position her in a prominent position, and if she enjoys a smooth run in transit she will be extremely hard to run down. LUMBINI, Race 3, 1200m, 1.40pm, A Hyeronimus, 56.5kgLumbini is in great shape ahead of this run. Things didn’t go entirely her way in the Sweet Embrace last time, but she still hit the line strongly. We’ve been guided by her since then and the signs at home are positive, so this race is a lovely option for her to try and gain some Black Type. She’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1, so Adam will try and position her in a handy enough position so that she doesn’t get smothered up against the rail by horses to her outside. She doesn’t have much to find with those that finished ahead of her last time, so with a bit of luck in running we hope that she can lift and be challenging at the finish.PLAGIARISM, Race 4, 1200m, 2.15pm, A Hyeronimus, 56.5kgPlagiarism ran yet another honest race to be beaten by less than a length in the Skyline Stakes last time. He simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and his terrific attitude is taking him a very long way. He’s drawn well in barrier 6, so we expect him to settle on or close to the speed where he can then hopefully enjoy an economical run in transit. Adam got a good feel for him last time so we’re delighted that he can retain the partnership here, so if he can give a strong kick on straightening we hope he’ll be right there at the finish.VAUBAN Race 5, 2000m, 2.50pm, T Clark, 57.5kgVauban is thriving ahead of his first-up run. He’s had three trials so he’s as fit as can be, and he’s going to relish every yard of the 2000 metres. Tim knows him well, so he’ll let him travel where he’s comfortable in the run. He won this same race when first-up last year, so we know he goes well fresh and he's only got 1kg more on his back this time around which seems fair. He's a mercurial character but he's got an abundance of talent and he ticks a lot of boxes here, so we expect him to hit the line strongly to get his preparation off to an exciting start.JUST FINE, Race 5, 2000m, 2.50pm, R Bayliss, 56.5kgJust Fine returned to action with a very creditable effort at Rosehill last month. He was returning from a long absence and only felt the pinch late on, so he’s entitled to take plenty of benefit from it. Campaldino finished 0.8 of a length ahead of him and came out and won the Listed Randwick City Stakes last weekend, so the form’s had a nice boost which adds further confidence. He’s had three weeks between runs which has done him the world of good, and he’s going to be suited by the step up to 2000 metres. Regan will be positive from barrier 5 and we envisage him racing on or close to the speed and making his own luck from there. He went close to winning when he was last second-up at this track in April last year, so he’s got plenty going for him and we hope to see him fighting out the finish. SHANGRI LA BOY, Race 7, 1500m, 4.00pm, N Rawiller, 56.5kgShangri La Boy was disappointing when resuming at this track a fortnight ago. However, it was simply too bad to be true and Adrian and I are willing to put a line through it as he’s much better judged on his previous form where he was very consistent. He’s had a seamless two weeks since that run, and we’ve elected to put a tongue tie on him here to aid his breathing. Nash will let him land where he’s comfortable from barrier 6, but he maps to race on speed so we envisage him getting to the front and settling into a comfortable rhythm. Nash almost won the Group 1 Spring Champion on him in October so he knows the horse which gives us confidence, and if he can bounce back to his best he’s more than good enough to win this.SOVEREIGN HILL, Race 10, 1400m, 5.55pm, T Clark, 55.5kgSovereign Hill lost nothing in defeat when second at Randwick a month ago. He’s been back to the trials since then to keep his fitness up to the mark between runs, and he couldn’t be in better shape ahead of this outing. Barrier 15 doesn’t make life easy but he’s got plenty of early speed, so Tim will be positive from there to try and get across into a more favourable inside position. This is a rise in grade so he’s taking on better performed horses, but he’s got the upside to cope with this and he’s dropping 4kgs in the weights which is a big positive. He’s a lightly raced gelding who’s still got a lot more to offer, so if he can get a bit of luck in running we expect him to be right there at the finish once again.
