Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

Friday 28th NOVEMBER - CANTERBURY 

Rail Position:  +6m Entire

JET - Race 3, 1100M, T CLARK 57.5kg

Jet has had a smooth preparation coming into this race and we cannot fault him. He improved from his first trial to win his most recent at Randwick in good style and these two hit outs have brought him on nicely so he’s spot on for his first-up run. He’s drawn barrier 9 and his natural gate speed should allow him to roll forward and take up a prominent position in this race where there looks to be no speed whatsoever. His two starts to date have been on heavy tracks, so we expect him to be much more effective on this drier surface. This is a lovely starting point for him against his own age group and if he gets a bit of luck in running he looks well placed to be fighting out the finish.

FORMAT - Race 5, 1900M, A HYERONIMUS 59kg

Format is in great order as he heads into this assignment. He was brilliant when winning at Hawkesbury two starts ago, where he travelled strongly in the run and proved far too good for his rivals over the concluding stages. He didn’t appreciate the going at Rosehill last time and Tim looked after him once his chance had gone, so that run is easy to forgive. He’s coming back in trip from 2400 metres which isn’t our usual preference, however he’s going a month between runs, so we’ve been able to freshen him up nicely and his recent trial showed he’s got plenty of speed in his legs, so we expect him to cope with the drop in distance. Adam should be able to land in a prominent position from barrier 2 to ensure it’s an evenly run race with a genuine tempo, and if he reproduces his best form, he’ll be very competitive.

Saturday 29th NOVEMBER - ROSEHILL

Rail Position: True

PALMANOVA - Race 1, 1100M, T Clark 60kg

Adrian and I can’t wait to see Palmanova step out at the races for you. She has had two trials to prepare her for this, both at Warwick Farm. She won her first trial nicely against her own sex before finishing a good third in her latest one, and these two hit outs have given her the right education and fitness grounding to kick off her career. She is a straightforward filly who enjoys her work and she looks terrific heading into race day, so Adrian and I couldn’t be happier with her. She’s drawn well in barrier 6, so Tim will be keen to utilise this to best effect and land in a handy position where she can make her own luck. All bar three of her rivals are unraced, so those with prior experience will no doubt put it to good use, but your filly is well educated and knows her job, so we aren’t concerned by this. She has done everything right so far and with even luck in running, we expect her to run a very competitive race on debut.

MAJOR BEEL - Race 9, 2000M, R King 56.5kg

Major Beel has been pleasing us in the lead into this race. He has had two solid runs over a mile so far this preparation, and these have given him the right fitness foundation to enable us to now stretch him out to 2000 metres with confidence. His recent trial at Randwick, where he went through his gears nicely, has kept his fitness up to the mark between runs and he was a good second in the Lord Mayors Cup over course and distance in May, albeit on a wet track, so we know he can go well over this track and trip. He is a proven quality galloper and getting back out to 2000 metres will suit. He has the gate speed to be positive from barrier 4 and with Rachel having ridden him previously, she knows how to get him into the right rhythm and she gets a terrific tune out of him so we’re delighted to secure her services once again. This is a competitive field but he is a tough, honest horse so if he bounces back to his best he should be very competitive.

SHANGRI LA SPRING - Race 9, 2000M, T Clark 53kg

Shangri La Spring is in really good shape heading into this assignment. He looks terrific and he’s trialled in between runs to keep his fitness up to the mark so Adrian and I couldn’t be happier with him. His most recent run in the Golden Eagle was better than it appears on paper as he was trapped wide in a very high-quality race and never had things go his way. Stepping up to 2000 metres is exactly what he has been crying out for and this race suits him perfectly as he drops in class, carries a light weight and returns to Rosehill, the track where he has produced one of his best runs. Drawing barrier 1 should allow Tim to use his gate speed to hold a handy position which hopefully enables him to control the race from the front. If he can steal any easy sectional or two mid-race it will make his turn of foot over this distance more effective, so with even luck in running we expect him to fight out the finish.

BELLA MONTAGNA - Race 10, 1400M, R King 59kg

Bella Montagna has been delighting us in the lead into this race. She has had two solid trials at Randwick, including a good second over 1200 metres last time, and these hit outs have brought her on fitness-wise so she’s ready to rock and roll. She showed her ability last campaign with a dominant four-length win in a 1600 metre maiden at Kembla Grange before being tested in Group 2 company, so resuming in a Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap against her own sex is a lovely starting point for her this preparation. She has drawn in barrier 12, so Rachel will let her find her feet and land where she’s comfortable in the run. This distance is a good starting point for her this preparation but given she has form over 2000 metres, we don’t expect her to fully hit her straps until she gets deeper into her campaign. With that said, Rosehill is a track where we have plenty of success and Rachel gets a terrific tune out of our horses, so we still expect her to give this a good shake to get her preparation off to an encouraging start.

Saturday 29th NOVEMBER - KEMBLA GRANGE

Rail Position:  +5m 1700m - 400m, cutaway applies, true remainder

TRIPLE SALUTE- Race 5, 1200M, L Beuzelin 57.5kg

We have been very happy with Triple Salute in the lead up to this assignment. He has done everything right and took a step forward between his first and second trials at Randwick, improving sharply to finish a very promising second in his most recent heat. These two trials have given him a strong platform fitness-wise and we’re confident that he’s ready to run well first-up. He has drawn well in barrier 8 which should allow Louis to use his gate speed to roll forward and find a prominent position without doing too much early work. It is a competitive maiden with a mix of race-fit runners and some well-credentialed debutants, so he is a little bit of a joker in the pack, but he has shown enough at home and at the trials to suggest he can measure up well and we are looking forward to seeing how he acquits himself on race day.

Saturday 29th NOVEMBER - CAUFIELD

Rail Position: Out 9m Entire Circuit

ALALCANCE - Race 8, 2400M, C Williams 57kg

Alalcance has been showing plenty of promise leading into this assignment. She ran very well when finishing third at Flemington last start and that run has brought her on nicely for this step up in trip. Getting back out to 2400 metres is ideal for her at this stage of her preparation, and she’s drawn well in barrier 4, which should allow Craig to be positive early and take up a handy position. She is a genuine staying mare who relaxes well in the run and finds the line strongly, so the extra 400 metres should suit her and may test a few of her rivals’ stamina. This is a competitive race as you’d expect for the money on offer, but on her rating she’s right in the mix, so with even luck in running we expect her to be right there at the finish.

CATOGGIO - Race 10, 2400M, J Childs 58kg

Catoggio is thriving ahead of this assignment. He was most unlucky to be beaten by the flare of a nostril over course and distance last time, but he’s come through the run in terrific order. He’s run three fantastic races at Caulfield, so whilst he’s stepping up in grade here we know he loves this course and distance. He’s got the speed to roll forward from barrier 9 to try and make his own luck from the front once again, but he is stepping up in grade so it’s going to be more competitive and he may not get things his own way out in front. He’s the lowest-rated horse in the field so he’s got a bit to find on face value, however there’s no substitute for courage and tenacity, which he has in spades, and we see no reason why he won’t outrun his odds and give this a good shake.