Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Escaped Fragment

Will Hudson aids us with programming and identifies who he thinks is the best placed horse each weekend.Storm Boy, Saturday 14th September, Royal Randwick, Race 8:Storm Boy resumed with a pretty devastating win in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes. He had plenty of naysayers and detractors after finishing third in the Golden Slipper in the autumn, but he silenced his critics with a bold front running display that was only just outside the course record. This is the natural next step for him programming wise against his own age group, and he should relish the extra 100 metres. All bar one of his rivals are resuming here, so he’s got the benefit of race fitness under his belt and whilst this is a tougher race than the San Domenico, he sets the standard and he’s the one to beat.

SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER – ROSEHILLRail Position: RAIL - +5m EntireI’M A DIRTY RASCAL (Race 3, 1pm, 1800m, T Clark, 57kg)I’m A Dirty Rascal has shown nice progress off the back of his two trials this time in and he has been pleasing us in his track work ahead of this first-up run. He was very consistent last preparation when contesting several competitive races, and whilst the 1800 metres here is a good starting point being a European bred stayer all he does is gallop so he's going to thrive once we get him out in trip after this start. Tim knows our horses very well and will be positive from barrier 6 to try and get him into a handy spot, but it's not impossible that he may find one or two a bit sharp for him early so he'll ultimately settle him where he's comfortable. This is a small but competitive field first-up and we know he won't be peaking until he stretches out over 2000 metres and beyond, but he is fit enough to do himself justice and we are confident he will find the line strongly to get his carnival off to an encouraging start.RAF ATTACK (Race 3, 1pm, 1800m, A Hyeronimus, 58.5kg)Raf Attack ran another solid race in his most recent start at Hawkesbury and was very strong through the line. He just got a little too far back in the run in an on speed dominated race, but to his credit he stayed on strongly and wasn’t beaten far at the line. He’s come through that outing in terrific shape, and he’s working with plenty of enthusiasm at present. He produced his career best effort to date over 1800 metres, so we expect him to relish this step up in trip third-up. He needs to execute the start better than he did at Hawkesbury, so Adam will be alert to this and do everything he can to get him jumping quickly from barrier 3 to try and take up the lead. He’s a happy horse who's in excellent shape and we expect him to be fighting out the finish.SO UNITED (Race 3, 1pm, 1800m, T Clark, 58.5kg)So United travelled well for a long way first-up and was just outsprinted in the closing stages. He’s come through the race in pleasing shape, and he tends to show nice improvement from his first to second start so we are hopeful that he can do just that here stepping out in trip. He’s dropping back in grade to Benchmark 88 company which he’ll find easier, but as a result is set to carry 61kg after Molly’s two kilo claim. Whilst this is still a big weight, he’s carrying this because he's the best horse in the race and Molly’s claim could prove to be a big advantage. He’s drawn well in barrier 2 so Molly will be positive from there to get him rolling along into a comfortable rhythm towards the head of the field, but if Raf Attack wants to lead he'll happily take a sit. This is a small but competitive race, but he’s entitled to plenty of improvement second-up and we are hopeful he will bounce back and be right there at the finish. CAMPALDINO (Race 4, 1.35pm, 2400m, T Clark, 55.5kg)Campaldino ran an excellent race in his latest outing at Warwick Farm. He was off the bridle a long way from home but he stuck to his task bravely and kept finding in the straight, so it was unfortunate that he was run down by a swooper from the back of the pack in the shadows of the post. He’s come through that start in wonderful order and whilst this race is only ten days later, he’s third-up now and ready for the challenge. He’s rising in grade to Benchmark 78 company so it’s not going to be easy, but he's open to further improvement stepping out in trip to 2400 metres third-up. We’ve also added the blinkers to ensure he’s focused and to sharpen him up, and he won in them in New Zealand which adds further confidence. Tim will be positive from barrier 6 to try and get him rolling along in front where he can dictate the tempo of the race to suit himself. He’s a progressive gelding who continues to thrive on his work, and if he can get into a flowing rhythm we know he's going to be staying on extremely strongly in the run to the line. KING OF CLUBS (Race 4, 1.35pm, 2400m, R King, 59kg)King Of Clubs ran well for a long way first-up at was just out sprinted in the closing stages. However, as Rachel mentioned he was strong through the line and took plenty of pulling up after the winning post, so we are confident that he will relish this step out in trip to 2400 metres. He’s come through that first-up display in good order, and he strips fitter and tighter in condition ahead of this contest. He’s only had two starts in the two seasons since his arrival in Australia, so he’s open to plenty of improvement as he gets race experience and fitness under his belt in this racing jurisdiction. Rachel knows him well and will be positive from barrier 8 to get him bowling along into a comfortable rhythm towards the head of the field. He’s a likeable gelding who gives his all, and we are hopeful that he will run a big race for you all.ANODE (Race 8, 4pm, 1200m, T Clark, 55kg)Anode is in great shape ahead of his first start this campaign and he has been progressing nicely since his most recent trial at Randwick three weeks ago. He’s returned in tremendous order as a three year old, and we have been delighted with his two trials this time in. These two outings have given him a good base level of conditioning to work from ahead of this first-up run and we were delighted with his gallop in the lead up to this race on Tuesday morning. Whilst we know he will improve over further later in his preparation, the 1200 metres is a suitable enough starting point and Tim will try to roll forward from barrier 5 but there's every chance he might be beaten for a bit of early speed over this distance by some sharper rivals. Tim will be as positive as he can be to try and hold a forward position, and if they go hard up front it could play into his hands as we know he’s ideally looking for further. He finished last campaign on a Heavy surface which wasn’t completely to his liking, and with the ground currently rated a Soft 5 the better underfoot conditions will play to his strengths here. This is very much a launchpad for the rest of his preparation, but if he can enjoy a smooth run in transit we hope to see him finishing strongly to get things off to an encouraging start.STORM BOY (Race 8, 4pm, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 57.5kg)Storm Boy gave us all such a thrill when winning so impressively first-up. He dominated the race from the outset an got into a lovely rhythm in the lead, and when he was asked to go and win is race at the top of the straight he showed a fantastic turn of foot to surge clear of his rivals and land a dominant win. He’s come through that run in wonderful order and he is thriving at present, so we can't fault him. He looks terrific, and we couldn’t be happier with how he is training at this stage in the campaign. We expect the step up to 1200 metres second-up to bring about further improvement, and Adam will again look to go forward from barrier 6. However, if something takes him on he'll just ride his own race and get him into a position where he can travel comfortably. This is a more competitive race than the one he contested first-up, but with natural improvement forthcoming off the back of that outing we expect him to be very hard to beat once again.NEW ENDEAVOUR (Race 9, 4.40pm, 1300m, A Hyeronimus, 56.5kg)New Endeavour looks excellent ahead of his first start this campaign and he has been progressing nicely since his most recent trial at Randwick. He has a good base level of fitness to work from ahead of this run, and while short of his best, he’s not slouch so the 1300 metre trip should enable him to get into a comfortable enough rhythm first-up. He’s drawn well in barrier 1 so Adam will be positive from there to try and get into a forward position, but there looks to be plenty of early pressure so he may have to settle a pair or two back in the run. This is just the starting point for him and there's a lovely program of races stretching out in trip over the coming weeks as we head towards the some big targets this spring, so fingers crossed he hits the line strongly to get his preparation off to an encouraging start.OMNI MAN (Race 10, 5.15pm, 1100m, M Bourke, 61.5kg)Omni Man looks terrific ahead of his first start this preparation. We have been delighted with the way that he has found the line in his two trials at Randwick this time in, and he held his own against several talented rivals in his most recent outing. He goes well fresh and has a great first-up record, so we know he’s more than capable and this race is a lovely kick off point for him. His feet require close maintenance, but he’s been to the beach plenty of times this week which he thoroughly enjoys and it's freshened him up nicely ahead of this run. Molly takes a valuable 2kgs off his back and she will to try and work forward from barrier 3 to get him into a comfortable rhythm on or just behind the speed. We know he’s talented on his day and he wasn't beaten far in a Group 3 last preparation, so if he can enjoy a smooth run in transit we expect to see him hitting the line strongly to get things off to an encouraging start.SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER – FLEMINGTONRail Position: RAIL - True Entire CircuitDAWN SERVICE (Race 2, 12.40pm, 1400m, B Shinn, 57kg)Dawn Service ran another solid race when stepped-up in grade in his most recent start. He was beaten by what looks to be a very talented filly who has since franked the form by winning in Group 3 company, so he lost nothing in defeat. He pulled nicely clear of the remainder of the field though which is always a positive sign, and we can’t fault his subsequent trackwork. He’s settled into our Flemington stable extremely well since his arrival, and we were delighted with his jumpout ahead of this assignment which gave him good experience travelling at speed the Melbourne way. Flemington is a unique track, so we wanted to get him settled into our base early and give him the opportunity to gallop and train there prior to this start. We have been delighted with the way he has adapted, and he's a happy colt with a lovely temperament. He’s rising in grade to Listed company here so it’s not going to be easy, but we expect him to relish stretching out to 1400 metres fourth-up and he’s certainly ready for the challenge. Blake will be positive form barrier 5 to get him rolling along into a forward position where he can travel comfortably and get into a good rhythm, and we've taken the blinkers off as we don't think there essential now that he's had a few runs and is now tackling a longer trip. This is a small yet select field with several unexposed horses meeting, but he's a talented colt and we are hopeful that he will be too strong for them in the run to the line.PROST (Race 4, 1.50pm, 1100m, N Rawiller, 58.5kg)Prost looks super ahead of his return and he has been progressing nicely since his most recent trial at Hawkesbury just under three weeks ago. His two trials so far this campaign have given him a good base level of fitness to work from ahead of this outing and he is a picture of health at present. He showed good improvement from his first to second trial, and he appears to have taken another step forward in his subsequent trackwork. He is yet to race in Melbourne and the Flemington straight is a unique challenge, but he’s a well-balanced and versatile colt who we feel is well suited and able to adapt to the conditions. Whilst we expect him to stretch out over further this campaign, his win last preparation was achieved over 1100 metres and he placed over 1000 metres on debut so he’s by no means slow and this trip is a good starting point first-up. We’ve added the blinkers to ensure he’s focused and to sharpen him up and Nash will be positive from barrier 4 to get him rolling along into a prominent position where he can look to dictate the tempo of the race to suit himself from the front, or close to it. As you would expect this looks a very competitive contest first-up, but he’s a talented colt and we expect him to be challenging at the finish.SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER – KEMBLARail Position: RAIL - TruePORTFOLIA (Race 2, 1.20pm, 1000m, J Van Overmeire, 57kg)Portfolia is pleasing us ahead of her first career start. She made a very good impression in her only trial so far this preparation, and she has shown excellent improvement in her subsequent trackwork. She’s displayed plenty of speed and professionalism thus far, and Kembla is a lovely expansive track where we have plenty of success so it's a good starting point for her preparation. Jean will be positive from barrier 8 and utilise her natural speed to try and roll forward to secure a favourable position at the head of the field. She’s conceding race experience to a few key rivals, and whilst debuting off one trial is not our usual preference she's a mare that's shown well above-average ability in her trials to date and we expect her to be challenging at the finish.SWITZ (Race 5, 3.10pm, 1200m, A McLucas, 56.5kg)Switz looks super ahead of his first career start. He has been progressing nicely since his most recent trial at Randwick two weeks ago, and his two trials have given him a good base level of fitness to work from ahead of this outing. The 1200 metres here is a lovely starting point as he'd be a bit outpaced over anything shorter, and whilst barrier 10 isn’t ideal Amy will be positive from there to get him rolling along into a forward position where he can travel comfortably. This is a valuable super maiden first-up so it’s not going to be easy, but the expansive track at Kembla should suit him well and he’s a lovely natured gelding who is progressing nicely at this stage in the campaign. Whilst we expect him to continue to improve with the benefit of race experience and as he stretches out over further in time, he is ready to rock and roll so with even luck in running we hope to see him challenging at the finish to get his career off to an encouraging start.SUNDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER – BATHURSTRail Position: RAIL – TrueTOO MUCH CAVIAR (Race 7, 4.34pm, 1800m, A Hyeronimus, 62kg)Too Much Caviar was terrific when winning his most recent outing. He quickened up impressively in the straight and showed an excellent attitude to hold off the persistent challenge of the runner up, with the two of them pulling away from the rest of the field. He’s come through that run in fantastic order and appears to have taken plenty of confidence from it, so he's going into this in a great headspace. This race isn't as tough as one in town on a Saturday, but he's shouldered with 62kg as a result. However, he showed first-up at Canterbury that he can defy big weights and this race is a 'win and you're in' for the $3mil. The Big Dance at Randwick in November so it's well worth rolling the dice, as it would be wonderful if he can qualify for this lucrative contest. He should relish the step up in trip to 1800 metres and he showed last time that he doesn't need to lead to win, so Adam has options from barrier 11 depending on where he lands in the run and what the competition for the early lead is like. Adam knows him well and he's the highest rated horse in the race who sets the standard, so he's the one they must all beat.