Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

THURSDAY 21st MAY - HAWKESBURY

Rail Position: +5m 1100-450, +3m 450 -WP, True remainder

MISS FARNAN, Race 6, 1100m, 3.20pm, R King, 55.5kg 
Miss Farnan ran creditably when resuming at Goulburn earlier this month. She’s taken good improvement from the outing so she strips fitter here, and she sticks to 1100 metres for now as she’s a very speedy filly so we expect it to suit her. Rachel will roll forward from barrier 8 to get across into a more favourable inside position, and whilst she’s untested on a wet track we’re hopeful she’ll get through it. This race is restricted to horses that have only won one race so it’s a nice progression for her, and we are confident that she will run a competitive race.

SATURDAY 23rd MAY - SANDOWN

Rail Position: True

HOME INVASION, Race 1, 1000m, 11.55am, C Newitt, 56.5kg 
Home Invasion has come through last week’s win at Bendigo in marvellous order. She showed so much determination to repel her challengers, and her fantastic attitude is going to take her a long way. She sticks to 1000 metres for now which should suit her well as she’s got an abundance of speed, and the 1000 metre start at this track is in a chute so there’s a long run to the one and only turn which will enable her to flow forward from barrier 7 and make her own luck on the speed again. She’s taking on better opposition here so it’s going to be much tougher, but she’s got plenty of upside in only her third career start and she’s right in this.

SLY BOOTS, Race 7, 1600m, 3.25pm, C Newitt, 58kg 
Sly Boots made an encouraging return at Hawkesbury three weeks ago. He got back in the field but closed off strongly in the final furlong, so he’s going to relish stretching out to the mile here. He’s not raced in Melbourne previously but he’s a sensible older gelding, so we’ve no concerns about his ability to adapt to this way of racing and the change of scenery might be just what he needs at this stage of his career. He’s drawn a tricky gate in 13 but he rarely shows much gate speed, so Craig will get some cover and let him travel where he’s comfortable in the run. As a result of his racing pattern he tends to require a bit of luck in running, but Sandown’s an expansive track with a long home straight so he’ll have plenty of time to hit top stride and we expect him to close off strongly and give this a good shake.

SATURDAY 23rd MAY - RANDWICK

Rail Position: True

THRICE, Race 4, 2400m, 12.45pm, Zac Wadick (2kg), 61.5kg 
Thrice has come through his latest run at Gosford in good order. Things didn’t go his way that day as it was a bit of a messy race, and he was one paced late but he ultimately wasn’t beaten too far. He’s crying out for this step up to 2400 metres so we are confident it will bring about significant improvement, and the return to this bigger track is another big positive. We’ve put blinkers on him which he worked very well in on Tuesday morning, and he also wore them when he raced in Ireland so he’s got previous experience in them and they should sharpen him up nicely too. He’s got another big weight here but Zac takes a valuable 2kg off his back, and we’re confident that the combination of the step up in trip and gear change will put him right in the finish.

THE THREE HUNDRED, Race 8, 1600m, 3.05pm, A Hyeronimus, 57kg 
The Three Hundred made an encouraging enough return at Hawkesbury earlier this month. As Adam said, he just peaked on his run late but he’s taken plenty of improvement from it so he strips much fitter here. He’s stepping up to the mile which he won a Group 3 over in July last year, so we know it will suit him and he also get a bit of weight relief on this slight step up in grade after shouldering 60kg last time. This is a competitive race with some smart types in opposition, but he profiles as a sharp improver second-up and we expect him to run a competitive race.

SATURDAY 23rd MAY - DOOMBEN

Rail Position: +2M Entire

HOME INVASION, Race 1, 1000m, 11.55am, C Newitt, 56.5kg