Gai's Tip Sheet
WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER - WARWICK FARMRail Position: +5m 1000m to Winning Post , +3m RemainderDOUBLE VISION - Race 1, 1.50pm, 1200m, R King, 58kgDouble Vision is in great shape ahead of her return. Her trials have been encouraging and they’ve given her the right fitness grounding for 1200 metres first-up. She went close to winning on debut over 1150 metres so we know she can be effective over this distance, and she’s placed at this track previously too which adds further confidence. Some key rivals have race fitness on their side but she’s a fully mature five year old now taking on younger horses which should be to her advantage, and we see no reason why she won’t be challenging at the finish to get her preparation off to an encouraging start.LOVE STORY - Race 1, 1.50pm, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 58kgLove Story is delighting us ahead of her first career start. You’ve been very patient with her but she’s always shown well above average talent at home and in her trials, and we’re confident the wait will be justified. This is a lovely race for her to debut in against her own sex and she’s drawn well in barrier 5, so Adam should be able to utilise her early speed to roll forward from there and make his own luck on or close to the speed. Warwick Farm’s a very fair track where we have plenty of success, so whilst a few key rivals have race fitness and experience on their side she doesn’t lack for education, and we expect her to give a strong kick and be fighting out the finish.BLESSED EAGLE - Race 2, 2.25pm, 1200m, C Schofield, 59.5kgBlessed Eagle lost no admirers in defeat when finishing a close third over course and distance last time. He had 61.5kg on his back and was conceding weight all round, so it was a brave effort and he now finds himself with 2kg fewer on his back which is a positive. That run has given him further vital experience and toughened him up nicely, and whilst the outside barrier isn’t ideal he’s got the gate speed to roll forward and Chad will try to get across and obtain a more favourable inside position. Once again he’s up against some unexposed, up and coming types so it’s not going to be easy, but he’s improving himself and is in wonderful shape so we expect him to be fighting out the finish once more.REACHIN' OUT - Race 2, 2.25pm, 1200m, T Clark, 58kgReachin’ Out is on a bit of a recovery mission after being outclassed when resuming in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes. She’s been back to the trials since then where she had a confidence boosting win, and she’s been training excellently since so we can’t fault her. She’s back to midweek grade which she broke her maiden impressively in as a two year old, so we’re hopeful this is what she needs to see her return to her best. She’s drawn to do no work in barrier 3 so Tim will be positive from there to try and make the most of the soft draw and enjoy all the favours in the run, and if she can give a strong kick on straightening we think she’ll take plenty of catching.FANTAZY MAN - Race 3, 3.00pm, 2140m, A Hyeronimus, 61kgFantazy Man is pleasing us ahead of his first Australian start. He’s taken a bit of time to come right but his most recent third trial was a lot better than his previous ones, and the penny is certainly dropping. He looks very well within himself and he’s certainly coming good at the right time, so he’s ready to rock and roll here. His wins in Europe came over 1940-2010 metres so we’re wasting no time by starting him off over this trip, as he’d simply be outpaced over anything shorter. He won his two races impressively before being thrown in the deep end at Royal Ascot, so he’s got ability and this race at the midweeks is a lovely place to kick him off. He’s got top weight with 61kg on his back so we’ve engaged heavyweight rider Adam Hyeronimus to ensure he carried minimal deadweight in the form of lead, which is always our preference, and the blinkers stay on from his latest trial to ensure he’s entirely focused. He’s drawn well in barrier 3 so Adam will let him find his feed but we intend for him to race on or close to the speed so that it doesn’t develop into a sit and spring, and we hope to see him challenging at the finish to get his campaign off to an exciting start.COBRA CLUB - Race 5, 4.10pm, 1600m, T Clark, 58.5kgCobra Club was so unlucky to be beaten by a millimeter at Canterbury last week. He’s gone up two points in the handicap for his troubles so he carries another 1kg on his back here which doesn’t make life easy, but he confirmed he’s more than capable of winning in this grade which gives us confidence. The step up to the mile should be well within range and whilst he’s on a seven day backup, he’s deep into his preparation and all the signs at home are positive so we think he’ll be able to handle it. Tim got a terrific tune out of him last week so he’ll let him land where he’s comfortable from barrier 5, and if he can conserve energy mid-race before giving a strong kick on straightening we hope he’ll get some justice and find his way into the Winner’s Circle for a well-deserved victory.LITTLE IRIS - Race 7, 5.20pm, 1200m, T Clark, 59.5kgLittle Iris is delighting Adrian and myself ahead of her first-up run. She has had three trials this time in so she’s as fit as we can get her, and these hit outs have given her a solid fitness base for 1200 metres first-up. She’s raced well at Warwick Farm previously which adds confidence and Tim will be positive from her lovely barrier in 3 to try and roll forward into a handy position where she can establish herself in a comfortable rhythm. We know she’s got city-grade ability, and we’ve put blinkers on not because she’s in anyway ungenuine but just to try and sharpen her up as she’s a mare who’s going to appreciate getting over ground deeper in her preparation. This is a lovely race to kick her off in against her own sex, and we expect her to be hitting the line strongly to get her campaign off to an encouraging start.WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER - GEELONGRail Position: +6M Entire ROEBUCK PLANE - Race 3, 2.35pm, 1425m, J Childs, 57kgRoebuck Plane has done everything right since heading south to our Flemington stable. She’s adjusted well to the boutique stable environment and her jumpout earlier this month couldn’t have been more impressive. That gave her some vital competitive experience going the Melbourne way, so we expect it to stand her in good stead come race day. She ran an honest race in defeat when last seen at Hawkesbury in August, and she simply needs to get over ground to be effective so she’s going to relish stretching out to 1425 metres here and then beyond in due course so there is still a lot of improvement to come. Jordan will be positive from barrier 5 as she’ll be well suited by a genuinely run race, and we’ve put a tongue tie on to aid her breathing. She ticks a lot of boxes and she’s a genuine filly who tries hard, so we expect her to be in this for a long way and fingers crossed she’s too good for them to catch.
