Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

WEDNESDAY 13th MAY - BENDIGO

Rail Position: +5m Entire

ZEPHYR SONG, Race 1, 1300m, 12.25pm, J Childs, 57kg 
Zephyr Song ran well for a long way first-up before getting tired in the run to the line. She’s taken plenty of improvement from that run so she strips fitter here, and we’ve reapplied a tongue tie to aid her breathing which should also enable her to finish off more strongly over the concluding stages of the race. She’s drawn well in barrier 3 so Jordan will let her land where she’s comfortable in the run, and she’s going to relish stretching out to 1300 metres. This is a lovely race for her against her own age and sex, and with natural improvement forthcoming from her last start we expect her to be hard to beat.

HOME INVASION, Race 3, 1000m, 1.35pm, J Childs, 56kg 
Home Invasion is delighting us ahead of this run. She had two trials in Sydney before heading south and having another trial at Werribee, and she couldn’t have been more impressive there. That hit out galloping the Melbourne way has given her vital experience ahead of this race, and we couldn’t be happier with how she’s continued to train since then. She’s got the speed to roll forward from barrier 7 and control things to suit herself, and she trialled well in the cross-over noseband so she retains it for race day. She’s got the benefit of race experience which the majority of the field don’t have, and we expect her to capitalise on this and she should be hard to beat.

SUPER CHOICE, Race 6, 1300m, 3.20pm, J Stanley, 59kg 
Super Choice gave us such a thrill when breaking his maiden at Kyneton last time. We knew he was more than capable of doing so, but it was great to see him get the job done in such tough fashion. He’s come through the run in good order and he’s had three weeks to get over his exertions, so he’s got a real spring in his step ahead of this outing. Following up a maiden win is notoriously tricky, but a Class 1 is about as gentle a steppingstone as possible and there are plenty of horses in the same boat here having their first run after notching their first win, so they’re all at a similar level. Jett knows him well so he’ll get him rolling along from barrier 4 to try and control things to suit himself, and the slight step up in trip to 1300 metres should be within range. This is a competitive race for the grade but he’s a likeable gelding with a good attitude, so we hope he can rise to the occasion and run a big race.

WEDNESDAY 13th MAY - KENSINGTON

Rail Position: +5m 900m-WP +3m Remainder

OSO SPIRITED, Race 4, 1800m, 2.00pm, Z Wadick (2kg), 61kg 
Oso Spirited has run two fantastic races in town since breaking her maiden, and she’s been most unlucky to be reeled in late in each of her last two races. She’s come through her latest start at Canterbury in great order, and this slight drop in trip to 1800 metres should play to her strengths. She’s dropping in grade quite noticeably from a Benchmark 78 to a Benchmark 64, but you don’t get many races of this grade in town so we’re keen to seize the opportunity to take on slightly inferior horses. As a result, she has a lot more weight on her back but Zac’s a talented apprentice who takes a valuable 2kg off her back which is a big asset. She’s drawn well in barrier 6 so we envisage her using her customary speed to roll forwards and make her own luck from the front, and she thoroughly deserves to find her way back into the Winner’s Circle so fingers crossed she won’t be caught this time.

HOLD THE DOOR, Race 5, 1800m, 2.35pm, T Clark, 57kg 
Hold The Door showed us his first-up run was all wrong when racing away to win impressively at Goulburn last time. It was a drop in grade but the combination of a tongue tie and step up in trip worked the oracle, and he couldn’t have been more impressive. We’re raising his sights again here by bringing him back into town so we’re under no illusions that it requires more, but he continues to stretch out in trip and we expect the 1800 metres to bring about further improvement. He’s got the speed to roll forward from barrier 10 to make his own luck on the front end, and whilst the first run outside of maiden grade is never easy you don’t often get Benchmark 64 races in town so we’re keen to seize the opportunity. He’s firing on all cylinders at home, so if Tim’s able to dictate terms to his rivals and stretch them out from the 800 metre mark onwards we hope he will take plenty of catching.

THURSDAY 14th MAY - HAWKESBURY

Rail Position: +3m 1100 - 450m, True remainder

ROYAL WOOTTON, Race 1, 1100m, 12.55pm, R King, 57kg 
Royal Wootton is delighting us ahead of his first start. His two trials this time in have been encouraging, and the blinkers certainly helped him at Canterbury last time. He retains them for race day not because he’s ungenuine, but because 1100 metres is a distance well short of what will ultimately be his optimal trip so we just want to have him as sharp and focused as possible. Rachel gets a terrific tune out of our horses so she’ll be positive from barrier 11 to try and get across into a more favourable position, and Hawkesbury’s an expansive track with a long home straight so he’ll have plenty of time to balance up and hit top stride. This is a lovely starting point for him and whilst there will no doubt be improvement to come as he stretches out in trip, he’s ready to do himself justice and we hope to see him fighting out the finish.

THURSDAY 14th MAY - WERRIBEE

Rail Position: True 

WISHFUL THINKER, Race 1, 1100m, 12.55pm, R King, 57kg 
Wishful Thinker has come through his last start at Caulfield in good order. He’s dropping back in grade and stepping up in trip here, and we’re confident this combination is going to see him in a better light. We’ve also put blinkers on to sharpen him up and try and eke out some further improvement, and he’s been working well in them so this adds confidence. Barrier 18 doesn’t make life easy but he’s got good gate speed, so Jett will be positive to try and get to the front and control things to suit himself. This is a nice race for him and we’ll be disappointed if he’s not able to fight out the finish.