Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

FRIDAY 22nd JANUARY - CANTERBURY PARK

Rail Position: +6m Entire

WILLINGHAM - Race 3 1250m, T Clark 56.0kg

Willingham is in terrific order. Adrian and I have been very pleased with how he has come into this assignment. He was a good second in his latest start, and we loved the way he travelled in the race. He has a beautiful rhythm and he doesn’t shirk the task when asked. He’ll appreciate getting out to 1400 metres as his preparation progresses, but 1250 metres at Canterbury Park is a very suitable stepping stone for him right now and Tim should be able to have him balanced and travelling comfortably before allowing him to build through his gears at the right time. With that recent improvement and his work at home right up to standard, we expect him to run a very competitive race and be hard to beat.

STEEL STRIKE - Race 5 1550m, A Hyeronimus 59.5kg

Steel Strike is in terrific order. Adrian and I have been very pleased with how he has come on this preparation. He has been consistent in this grade, finishing third in his past two starts, and his latest effort had plenty of merit given he raced a touch fresh early which left him vulnerable late. He’s tightened up since, he’ll carry more fitness and stamina into this run, and 1550 metres at Canterbury looks a very suitable progression at this stage. Adam knows him well and should be able to have him travelling comfortably in a handy position before allowing him to build into the race at the right time, and with natural improvement to come we expect him to be tough to beat.

ASSAILANT - Race 6, 1900m, A Hyeronimus 59.5kg

Assailant is in terrific order and Adrian and I have been very pleased with how he has come into this assignment. He hasn’t been seen at the races since July, when he finished eighth at Rosehill over 2400 metres in Benchmark 78 grade, and that run had genuine excuses as he made contact with another runner and then struggled to secure clear running when it mattered. 1900 metres looks a suitable set-up at this stage as he gets back underway. His work on Tuesday was right up to standard and he has continued to progress through the preparation. Adam should be able to have him settled into a comfortable rhythm before allowing him to build into the race from the 600. With his class drop into Benchmark 72 grade and natural improvement to come first-up, we expect him to run a very competitive race and be hard to beat.

SATURDAY 23RD JANUARY - ROYAL RANDWICK

Rail Position: +6m Entire

CALOOCAN BEAUTY - Race 1, 1000m, T Clark 56.0kg

Caloocan Beauty is a filly Adrian and I have always had a good opinion of and we’re looking forward to seeing her begin her career. She’s the type of Justify filly we love to train with scope and natural athleticism, and she has continued to strengthen and improve through her work at home. Her trials have given her a strong educational grounding and a solid fitness base for a sharp 1000 metres first-up, and her gallop on Saturday morning confirmed she’s coming into this at the right time. Tim knows her well and should be able to have her settled comfortably before allowing her to build into the race when it matters, and although there's improvement to come with this experience under her belt, we expect to see her fight out the finish.

TOWNSEND - Race 5, 2000m, A Hyeronimus 61.0kg

Townsend is in great shape coming into this assignment. Adrian and I have been very pleased with how he has trained on. His latest run at Wyong over 1600 metres didn’t play to his strengths as the race developed into a sprint late, which left him with too much to do when the pressure went on, so that finishing position reads worse than it should. Randwick is a much more suitable set-up for him and getting out to 2000 metres should allow him to find a comfortable rhythm and build into the race properly. He’s a proven quality horse with black-type performances on his record, and his work this week confirmed he’s right where we want him. Adam should be able to have him travelling comfortably throughout before letting him improve at the right time, and if he gets the chance to build into it as we expect, he should run a very competitive race.

GOLD BULLION - Race 7, 1600m, A Hyeronimus 61.0kg

Gold Bullion is pleasing Adrian and I coming into this assignment and we’ve been happy with the way he has come on since his first-up run. That return over 1400 metres was better than it reads on paper, as the pace was strong and he still travelled well through the middle stages. He has always been at his best when he can build into his work and use his strength over a mile. His higher-class form has already shown he’s capable of measuring up when the conditions suit, so the step up in trip will suit. Adam knows him well and should be able to have him settled and switching off before allowing him to improve when it matters, and with that run under his belt and natural improvement to come second-up, we expect him to run a much more competitive race.

HEAT MISSILE - Race 9, 1200m, T Clark 55.0kg

Heat Missile is delighting Adrian and I coming into this second-up assignment and we’ve been very happy with how she has come on since that first-up run. She was forced to make ground from the rear and was caught wide, yet she kept finding through the line, so it was a nice return and a good platform to build on. Second-up at 1200 metres looks ideal for her, and the Randwick track should allow Tim to get her into a comfortable rhythm before letting her build into the race when it matters. With that run under her belt and natural improvement to come, we expect her to run a very competitive race and be fighting out the finish.

SATURDAY 23RD JANUARY - CAUFIELD

Rail Position: True Entire Circuit

CONCHIERO - Race 4, 1400m, B J Melham 59.0kg

Conchiero has been pleasing Adrian and I since arriving in Melbourne and we have loved the way he has gone about his work. He has been thriving in the Flemington environment and his jump outs have been right up to standard, winning his first hit out before backing it up with a strong second in a deeper 1000 metre heat behind Group 1 winner Veight, so he heads to Caulfield with a solid fitness base and a nice edge to his work. Dropping back to 1400 metres looks a sensible starting point for him. Ben should be able to have him balanced and travelling in a comfortable rhythm before allowing him to build into the race when it matters. If he reproduces what he has shown at home, we expect him to run a very competitive race and be fighting out the finish.