Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

FRIDAY 28th AUGUST - GEELONG

Rail Position: Out 8m 1700m - 800m, Out 11m Remainder

YAUSON - Race 7, 3.55pm, 1347m, J Childs, 60kg
Yauson is training extremely well ahead of his return. His two jumpouts have been most encouraging and he was excellent when winning his latest one, so these have helped get his fitness where it needs to be. He broke his maiden on debut last preparation over 1400 metres, so 1350 metres is a good kick off point for him as he’d be vulnerable to speedier types over anything shorter. He is now taking on more seasoned and better performed horses though, so there’s every chance they may be a bit slick for him and this is very much a starting point for him en route to bigger and better things deeper into his preparation. Jordan will be positive from barrier 11 to try and sit as close to the speed as possible, and if he enjoys a smooth run in transit we hope to see him give this a good shake to get his campaign off to an encouraging start.

SATURDAY 29th AUGUST - KEMBLA

Rail Position: True

GENTLE GIANT - Race 2, 1.15pm, 1600m, Z Wadick, 59kg
Gentle Giant is pleasing us ahead of his first start. He hasn’t set the world alight in his two trials, however he was sticking on nicely enough through the line at Randwick last time and these hit outs have given him the right fitness foundation. 1600 metres is a lovely starting point as he’d be vulnerable to speedier types over anything shorter, and Zac will endeavour to roll forward from barrier 4 to try and put him in the race and make his own luck accordingly. His trial form hasn’t blown us away, but he’s starting off at a realistic level with both blinkers and a tongue tie on to assist him as much as possible and horses can improve a lot under race day conditions. We will have a much clearer line on him after this outing, and we hope to see him run a big race to get his career off to an encouraging start.

CONFUCIUS - Race 3, 1.50pm, 1200m, Z Wadick, 56.5kg
Confucius is delighting us ahead of his first start. He has had two encouraging trials at Randwick, finishing third on both occasions, and these hit outs have given him a very good fitness base and educational grounding for 1200 metres first-up. Kembla is a very fair track that regularly suits our horses’ racing patterns, so we expect Zac to be positive early from barrier 19 to try and have him in a handy position where he can make his own luck on or close to the lead. He’s been a straightforward and professional colt thus far, and this temperament will take him a long way. He's shown us ability in his trials so we think he's capable of making his presence known in this grade, and we’re looking forward to seeing him run a very completive race for you to get his career off to an exciting start.

HARRY LIME - Race 6, 3.35pm, 1400m, J Van Overmeire, 56kg
Harry Lime gave us such a thrill when winning on debut at Wyong. He made his challenge widest of all in the straight and he needed every yard of the 1200 metres to prevail, but he showed a fantastic attitude and will to win which is going to take him a long way. He’s taken plenty of natural improvement from that win so he strips fitter here, and he’ll also be more streetwise and aware of what’s required of him. The first run outside of maiden grade is notoriously tricky but a Class 1 Handicap is about as steady a progression as you can get, so it’s a lovely steppingstone for him. He’s got to take on some older horses which is never easy to do, even at provincial grade, but we’re confident he’s got the ability and upside to rise to the challenge. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 3, so Jean should be able to land in a forward position and get him travelling comfortably in the run and with even luck in running we see no reason why he won’t take a power of beating.

SATURDAY 29th AUGUST - ROSEHILL

Rail Position: +3M Entire

STEEL STRIKE - Race 5, 2.05pm, 1500m, T Clark, 58kg
Steel Strike lost no admirers when finishing a close sixth at this track last time. He’s probably looking for further at this stage of the preparation so this step up to 1500 metres is a plus which should bring about more improvement, and he handles all track conditions so he’s versatile in this regard. Barrier 15 means Tim will probably have to be positive from the outset to try and get across into a more favourable position, but once he does he should be able to enjoy an even run in transit. This is a competitive race but he deserves his place in the field, and he should run another honest race.

PLAGIARISM - Race 7, 3.15pm, 1300m, R Bayliss, 55kg
Plagiarism lost no admirers when finishing a brave third first-up over course and distance where he was conceding a lot of weight to the two that finished ahead of him. He’s come through the run in brilliant order so he strips fitter here, and he sticks to 1300 metres for now before we explore stretching him out in trip. Regan will let him roll forward and land where he’s comfortable from barrier 7, and whilst he’s up in grade here he drops in the weights and he showed as a two year old that he can competitive at this level. He’s entitled to take a big step forward here and we expect him to give it a good shake.

SAVAGRAM- Race 7, 3.15pm, 1300m, T Clark, 53kg
Savagram gave us such a thrill when winning so impressively on debut at Canterbury. He’s come through that run in terrific order and he’s certainly taken plenty of improvement from it, so we’re very excited to see him step out again here. It’s a big step up in grade but once three year olds have broken their maiden the options are somewhat limited, so it’s the natural next step for him. He’s going to relish the step up to 1300 metres on a more expansive track, and he’s drawn a lovely barrier in 3 so Tim should be able to land in a prominent position and enjoy all the favours in the run. We’ll know a lot more about him after this outing but he’s a talented colt who deserves his chance at this level, and we’re confident he’ll run a big race.

REVENGEANCE - Race 8, 3.50pm, 1100m, T Clark, 57kg
Revengeance is delighting us ahead of his return. He’s been off for a long time since winning the Group 3 Golden Gift in November, but he’s had three trials this time in so he’s as fit as we can get him and he’s primed for the 1100 metres first-up. The form of the Golden Gift has worked out well with four subsequent winners coming out of it so that adds confidence, and Tim will let him travel where he’s comfortable from barrier 6 but he maps to sit just in behind the leaders so he should enjoy an even run in transit. There’s no doubt he’ll improve for the run but he’s forward enough to do himself justice, and we’re excited to see him back at the races so fingers crossed he can give this a good shake to get his campaign off to an exciting start.

FULLY LIT - Race 9, 4.30pm, 1500m, R Bayliss, 59kg
Fully Lit ran a terrific race to finish third when resuming over 1400 metres at this track. Althoff had race fitness on his side on that occasion so whilst he’s got a bit to find with him, he’s entitled to finish closer to him here. He’s drawn a lovely barrier in 2 so he should be able to enjoy all the favours in the run and we expect him to be suited by the step up to 1500 metres, so we expect him to take a step forward and be right there at the finish.

THE THREE HUNDRED - Race 10, 5.05pm, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 57kg
The Three Hundred is pleasing us ahead of his return. He hasn’t set the world alight in his trials but they’ve got his fitness where he needs to be for a first up run, and he was victorious when first-up over this distance at Wyong in December so we know he can be effective fresh over this trip which adds confidence. This is only a starting point though and we don't expect him to be peaking until he gets deeper into his preparation. The track is currently rated a soft 5 and with no rain forecast, we're hopeful that will come in further. It's a small field so Adam will settle him where he’s comfortable from barrier 7 but he maps to settle just off the speed so he should be able to enjoy a favourable run in transit. We hope to see him hitting the line strongly to show he’s in a good headspace and to get his preparation off to a competitive start.

SUNDAY 30th AUGUST - WYONG

Rail Position: +3M Entire

OCEAN PREDATOR - Race 1, 12.35pm, 1625m, R Bayliss, 59kg
Ocean Predator was slightly disappointing on debut at Muswellbrook. However, he had excuses as he was galloped on in the run and he deserves another chance. He’s an out and out stayer so stretching him out to the mile is a step in the right direction, but we won’t see the best of him until he gets out to 2000 metres and beyond so he may need another run before he reaches his peak. Regan will be aggressive from barrier 6 to try and make his own luck on or close to the speed, and we hope to see an improved performance.

I'M YA HUCKLEBERRY - Race 3, 1.46pm, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 57kg
I’m Ya Huckleberry is in great shape ahead of this return. His two trials in July were excellent, and his recent jumpout at home has kept his fitness up to the mark as he’s going a month since his latest trial. He’s got the early speed to roll forward from barrier 13 and Adam will try to get him into the race from the outset so that he isn’t dictated to and to try and avoid being posted too deep in the run. He’s returning from eleven months off the track but he brings Stakes race form from his two year old debut to the provincials so he very much sets the standard, and he should be hard to beat.