Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

WEDNESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER - KENSINGTON

Rail Position: +2M Entire

GENTLE GIANT - Race 1, 1.35pm, 1800m, A Hyeronimus, 59kg
Gentle Giant ran a brilliant race to finish a close fourth on debut at Kembla. He did everything right in the run and fought on very determinedly once headed, and this attitude is going to take him a long way. He simply needs further, so he’s going to relish this step up to 1800 metres and it has the potential to unlock plenty of improvement so whilst he’s stepping up in grade to race in town, we think he’s got the upside to rise to the challenge. Adam will let him find his feet from barrier 1 but he maps to lead so we envisage him controlling things to suit himself, and if he can up the ante from the half mile and get them all chasing in behind we’re sure he’ll take plenty of running down.

CAVIAR - Race 2, 2.10pm, 1550m, A Hyeronimus, 59kg
Caviar ran a brilliant race when finishing a close second at Newcastle last time. He took good improvement from his first-up run and relished the step up to 1400 metres, and the first two pulled 3.5 lengths clear of the rest of the field which generally means the form is reliable. He’s up in grade here so we’re under no illusions that it’s going to be tougher, but it’s not the strongest city-class maiden and he will relish getting out to 1550 metres on his home track so he looks to be well placed. Adam will let him find his feet from barrier 4 but he maps to lead so we envisage him controlling things to suit himself, and if he can up the ante from the half mile and get them all chasing in behind we’re sure he’ll take plenty of running down.

LOW KEY - Race 3, 2.45pm, 1150m, T Clark, 55kg
Low Key is thriving ahead of her return. Her two trials have been excellent and she won her latest one easily without being asked for maximum effort which was encouraging to see, so she couldn’t be in better order. We’ve always held her in high regard which is reflected by her debuting in a Group 3 where she wasn’t beaten far, especially when you consider she was galloped on in the run. The form of that race is working out well which adds further confidence, and this is a lovely race to kick her off in against her own age group. She maps to lead from her lovely barrier in 2 so Tim should be able to flow forward and dictate terms to suit himself, and whilst she’s conceding race fitness to her key rivals we ultimately think she’s a class above them and we’ll be surprised if she doesn’t win en route to bigger and better things down the line.

WEDNESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER - SANDOWN

Rail Position: +8M Entire

HOME INVASION - Race 5, 2.20pm, 1000m, J Childs, 57kg
Home Invasion is delighting us ahead of her return. The bruising she sustained to her foot prior to the weekend resolved after plenty of care and attention, and we’ve kept the swimming up to her during this time. She still has some improvement to come in her coat and fitness, so as such 1000 metres is a lovely starting point for her as it'll give her a solid hit out to bring her along before we explore stretching her out slightly in distance. This is a very attractive race for her as it's restricted to her own age group which is always our preference where possible, and she’s got plenty of speed so Jordan should be able to roll forward from her lovely barrier in 2 and hopefully control the race to suit himself. The Soft track is a query and you don't know how a horse will handle it until you try it, but we think she will cope. She is a likeable filly who's shown us all the positive signs of having trained on from two to three, so if she can show a sharp turn of foot on straightening up we hope she’ll take plenty of catching.

FEAR NO EVIL - Race 10, 5.15pm, 1400m, J Childs, 57kg
Fear No Evil is absolutely thriving. I’ve been down in Melbourne weekly for the last month, and his coat is so shiny that I can reapply my lipstick in it. He was no match for Buccleuch last time and it’s a shame he comes up against him again here as he’s going to be tough to beat, but no horse is unbeatable and a lot can happen so we’re not ones to run scared of another horse. He’s drawn a lovely barrier in 5 and Jordan knows him inside out, so he should be able to get him rolling along and travelling in a prominent spot. The heavy track won’t be an issue for him as he has plenty of form on it, so we’re confident he’ll run his usual honest race for you and fingers crossed he’s right in the mix at the finish.

THURSDAY 10th SEPTEMBER - HAWKESBURY

Rail Position: +4m 1100m - 450m, True remainder

IGNITION CODE - Race 4, 2.50pm, 1100m, W Costin, 55.5kg
Ignition Code has turned a real corner over the past couple of weeks so we're certain that we did the right thing by waiting a little longer. She has had three trials this time in so she’s as fit as can be, is well educated and certainly knows her job. These hit outs have given her a solid fitness base and educational grounding for 1100 metres first-up, and Hawkesbury’s an expansive track so with just the one turn in running Winona will be positive from barrier 14 to try and roll forward into a handy position where she can make her own luck on or close to the lead. She’s shown ability and she’s kicking off at a winnable level against her own sex which is always our preference where possible, so we expect her to run a very competitive race for you to get her career off to an exciting start.

SHANTI - Race 4, 2.50pm, 1100m, C Schofield, 55.5kg
Shanti is pleasing us ahead of her first start. She took plenty of improvement from her first trial to finish an encouraging second in her latest one, and these hit outs have given her a solid fitness base and educational grounding for 1100 metres first-up. Hawkesbury is a very fair track that regularly suits our horses’ racing patterns, so we expect Chad to be positive early from her lovely barrier in 3 to try and have her in a handy position where she can make her own luck on or close to the lead. She’s been a straightforward and professional filly thus far, and this temperament will take her a long way. She's shown ability and we think she's capable of making her presence known in this grade, so we’re looking forward to seeing her run a big race for you to get her career off to an exciting start.

THURSDAY 10th SEPTEMBER - SEYMOUR

Rail Position: +8M Entire

YAUSON - Race 7, 4.30pm, 1600m, J Childs, 60kg
Yauson ran a fantastic race when resuming at Geelong a fortnight ago. He got slightly further back in the run than anticipated but he motored home extremely well, finding only the well backed favorite too slick for him in the run to the line. He’s taken plenty of benefit from that so he strips fitter here, and he’s going to relish stretching out to the mile so we’re confident that there’s a lot of improvement to come over this distance. Jordan knows him well and should be able to settle him in a more prominent position over this longer trip, and we expect him to be hard to beat.