Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

FRIDAY 9th JANUARY - GOSFORD

Rail Position: +3m Entire

EXCEED PERFECTION - Race 6, 6.33pm, 1100m, Z Wadick (1.5kg), 57.5kg
Exceed Perfection is delighting us ahead of his first-up run. His two trials have been very encouraging, and they’ve given him the right fitness base to kick off his campaign here. 1100 metres is a good starting point for him and he ran brilliantly over course and distance when last first-up to finish in second place, so we know he’s suited by these conditions. Zac’s a talented rider who takes a valuable 1.5kg off his back, and he’ll be positive from his good draw in barrier 5 to try and settle towards the head of the field but if they’re too slick for him early he’ll slot in where he’s comfortable. There will be improvement to come as he gets out slightly in trip, but he’s a happy horse who’s in a great headspace and he rarely runs a bad race so we expect him to go close to get his preparation off to an exciting start.

SATURDAY 10th JANUARY - GOLD COAST

Rail Position: True

BY CHOICE - Race 2, 2.45pm, 1100m, R Bayliss, 58kg
By Choice couldn’t be pleasing Adrian or myself more ahead of this outing. She’s taken the journey north to Queensland in her stride, and it’s as if she’s been here a hundred times which doesn’t come as a huge surprise as she’s such a professional filly. She showed a lot of courage and fight to prevail on debut, and she will have learned a lot from that experience so she will be more streetwise here. She’s going to need to put all her experience to good use here because barrier 11 is a little unkind, and it’s a short run into the first turn so those to her inside are likely to kick up to try and hold a prominent spot. However, if any two year old can cope with it it’s yours, and Regan will let her land where she’s comfortable and ride his race accordingly. She has a 2kg penalty here for her win so she needs to keep improving to defy this, but we think she can and she couldn’t be in better shape so we expect her to be hard to beat.

SHIKI - Race 2, 2.45pm, 1100m, T Clark, 58kg
Shiki is pleasing Adrian and myself ahead of this run. She blotted her copybook at Randwick last time where she simply raced far too fiercely, and it left her very vulnerable late. However, we haven’t lost faith in her as she’s a talented filly, and she might’ve just needed that hit out to help blow away some nervous energy. She’s since travelled up to Queensland where she’s had plenty of time to settle into her new surroundings, and she seems to be thriving in her environment which is a positive sign. Her work has been excellent, and she’s been harnessing her energy nicely so she now just needs to take this to race day. She’s drawn well in barrier 5 and it’s a short run to the first turn, so we imagine a few of the others might try and go hell for leather to obtain a prominent position which will give Tim the option to position her in behind them. If the leaders go hard she shouldn’t be inclined to pull, and hopefully it’ll help her to get into a comfortable rhythm. Everything hinges on how she harnesses her energy and what the speed of the race is like, but if things fall her way we know the talent is there and it would come as no surprise to see her bounce back and win.

SLY BOOTS - Race 7, 6.05pm, 1800m, R Bayliss, 59kg
Sly Boots is thriving ahead of this race. He’s taken the journey to Queensland in his stride, and he’s loving the change of scenery. He couldn’t have been more impressive when winning at Randwick last time, and he so deserved to notch another win so we were thrilled to see him deliver. It’s done his confidence the world of good as he’s had a real spring in his step since, so he’s coming into this in a great headspace. Regan will be positive from barrier 13 to try and get across into a better position and land where he’s comfortable in the run, and the step up to 1800 metres is a big positive as he’ll relish every yard of it. This is his toughest task to date and on the weight for age structure he’s got a bit to find with quite a few rivals, but he deserves his chance in a race like this and it’s a lovely steppingstone to his Grand Final over 2200 metres next week. He’s progressive and promises to have more to come, so we hope to see him rise to the challenge and give this a good shake. 

SATURDAY 10th JANUARY - WYONG

Rail Position: True

PROTON - Race 1, 11.05am, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 58kg
Proton is delighting us ahead of his first start. His two trials have been excellent, and he gained valuable course experience in his latest one a fortnight ago which can only be a good thing. He’s continued to improve since then, and we’re very happy with how he’s training ahead of this run. It’s a small a field and he’s drawn barrier 1 which will be an asset if he jumps smartly and puts himself on speed, which we expect him to. From there Adam will let him roll along in a comfortable rhythm, and whilst we don’t often debut two year olds over 1200 metres we think he’ll be well suited by it. He’s a professional colt who rolls his sleeves up and gets on with the job, so we expect him to be right there at the finish.

COLLECT YOUR CASH - Race 9, 3.35am, 1600m, L Beuzelin, 52kg
Collect Your Cash bounced back to form with a terrific effort at Randwick just after Christmas. He’s done everything right since then and he’s thumping his chest at home, so we can’t fault him ahead of this outing. The mile seems to suit him well so he sticks to that distance here, and he’s drawn well in barrier 5 so Louis will be keen to roll forward from there to try and assume a forward position. He’s had some big weights so far this preparation, so whilst this is a big step up in grade he’s only carrying 52kg so he’ll hardly know he has a rider on his back. The forecast dry weather means he won’t get his preferred surface with cut in the ground, but he’s no one trick pony and if he can get into a good rhythm and enjoy luck at the right times we hope to see him give this a good shake.

TOWNSEND - Race 9, 3.35am, 1600m, T Nugent, 52kg
Townsend is in great shape ahead of his first-up run. He’s had three trials so he’s as fit as we can get him, and he’s been more relaxed this time in so we hope to see him take this sensible attitude to the races with him. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1, so hopefully he can jump on terms which will enable Teo to roll forward and land in a forward position either on or close to the speed. He’s conceding race fitness to the rest of the field and he’s also kicking off in a hot race, so we’re under no illusions as to the task he faces and he’ll no doubt improve with the benefit of a run and as he continues to stretch out in trip. However, he’s a happy horse who’s ready to do himself justice and if he can get into a good rhythm and enjoy luck in running we hope to see him run a big race to get his campaign off to an exciting start.

SATURDAY 10th JANUARY - FLEMINGTON

Rail Position: +6M Entire 

IKASARA - Race 9, 5.15pm, 1200m, J Childs, 59kg
Ikasara is pleasing us ahead of this race. He’s had two jumpouts since Christmas so he’s nice and fit, and his recent work has been excellent so we can’t fault him. He raced as though he needs further than 1200 metres at Geelong in November, but we’re mindful that he’s going a bit of time between runs so this is a suitable kick off point for him. The Flemington straight presents a unique test and you never know if a horse will handle it until you try, but we see no reason why he won’t adapt to it. He’s drawn down the middle in barrier 9 so Jordan will roll forward from there and settle him where he’s comfortable in the run, but he should get a good tow into the race. We may not see the best of him until he gets out to 1400 metres, but he’s firing on all cylinders at home and we hope to see him run a competitive race.

FEAR NO EVIL - Race 10, 5.55pm, 1400m, J Childs, 60kg
Fear No Evil has delighted us since returning to Flemington. He’s a consummate professional and he’s taken it all in his stride, so he’s going into this race in a great headspace. His recent jumpout was excellent and has kept his fitness up to the mark between runs, and the drop back to 1400 metres should suit him based on his last couple of runs where he’s seemingly failed to see out a strong mile. He’s drawn a lovely barrier in 4, so Jordan should be able to utilise his early speed to land in a forward spot where he can make his own luck on or close to the speed. This is a competitive race but he's not been beaten far in his last two runs so we think he’s a genuine Saturday grade performer, and we expect him to be fighting out the finish.

SATURDAY 10th JANUARY - KEMBLA

Rail Position: +3m 1100m-W/Post, True Remainder

WHACK ATTACK - Race 5, 3.20pm, 1600m, Z Wadick (1.5kg), 56kg
Whack Attack found his way back into the Winner’s Circle with a tenacious effort at Canberra last time. He looked beaten but he doesn’t know how to give up, and he fought on doggedly to prevail on the line. The first two pulled a mile clear of the rest of the field which is always a nice sign, and he’s taken further improvement and confidence from it. He’s now stepping up in grade to the provincials, however he’s fourth-up and his three runs thus far at Canberra and Goulburn have got him nice and seasoned so he’s ready for the challenge. He sticks to the mile for now, and the stiff track and long home straight at Kembla will play to his strengths. Zac got a terrific tune out of him last time so we’re thrilled he retains the partnership here, and he’ll be positive from barrier 4 to get him rolling along. He knows the horse thrives on pressure and that he won’t go down without a fight, so we expect him to be right in the finish once again. 

WATSON - Race 6, 4.00pm, 1300m, Z Wadick (1.5kg), 57.5kg
Watson is pleasing us ahead of his first-up run. He took good improvement from his first trial to finish second in his latest one, and he’s continued to delight us in his subsequent work at home. 1300 metres is a lovely starting point for him as he’d be a bit outpaced over anything shorter, and Zac will be positive from barrier 11 to try and get across into a more favourable inside position where he can race on or close to the speed. Kembla’s an expansive track which will also play to his strengths, and whilst there will be improvement to come as he gets deeper into his campaign he’s had the ‘ultimate gear change’ since last preparation and we expect him to hit the line strongly to get things off to an exciting start.

SUNDAY 11th JANUARY - WARRNAMBOOL

Rail Position: +4M Entire 

MY CHERIE AMOR - Race 1, 1.20pm, 1200m, A Kelly, 56kg
My Cherie Amor didn’t enjoy much luck when posted wide throughout on debut at Yarra Valley, so she understandably weakened late. However, she should take natural improvement from the run, both mentally and physically, and we expect her to be a bit more streetwise here. Alana will be positive from barrier 1 to try and make the most of the good draw and hold a forward position, and in a race where there doesn’t look to be a huge amount of speed we hope she’ll be able to control things to suit herself. Warrnambool’s a very different track to Yarra Valley so she shouldn’t have too many excuses, and whilst she may have limitations we hope to see her take a big step forward and show what she’s really capable of here.