Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

FRIDAY 13th NOVEMBER - CANTERBURY

Rail Position: +2M Entire

FROM ME TO YOU - Race 1, 6pm, 1100m, T Clark, 58.5kg
From Me To You kick starts her racing career off the back of two very encouraging trials at Randwick this time in. She has drawn barrier five, so in this relatively small field it gives Tim options to find a comfortable position but we envisage her racing on or close to the speed. The 1100 metres looks a suitable starting point given her breeding and the speed she has shown at home, and the track’s currently rated a Good 4 so it’s a fair surface for her first race start. Adrian and I have been very pleased with her preparation thus far, and her trial performances suggest she is ready to make a splash on debut.

MARKOS PORT - Race 3, 7pm, 1550m, R Bayliss, 59kg
Markos Port has been kept as fresh as possible since his latest run. He possibly failed to see out the 1800 metres at Hawkesbury, so the return to 1550 metres here should help him. He has finished in the placings in three of his four career starts, including once in town, so he’s demonstrated a good level of consistency without yet putting a win on the board. Barrier seven is a little wide and it’s a short run to the first turn from this start at Canterbury, so Regan will be positive from the outset to try and get across and avoid being posted too deep in the run. He’s deep into his preparation now but he’s holding his form and condition well at home, so we can’t fault him and fingers crossed the drop back to this distance enables him to be right there at the finish.

HELLABELLA - Race 8, 9.30pm, 1250m, R Bayliss, 58.5kg
This step up in distance looks to be a positive for Hellabella after three starts at 1100 metres, as it should allow her more time to find her rhythm and travel comfortably in the run. We're hopeful of a steadier tempo, which would give her every opportunity to take up a prominent position from a tricky barrier in 9 and dictate terms out in front and enable her to use her natural racing style to best effect. She has mostly struggled in races in town since breaking her maiden, however she’s had excuses and under the right conditions we do think she’s capable of winning or placing at this level. The conditions of this race look favourable and the it shapes as a good opportunity for her to regain the winning thread, so we're expecting her to run a big race.

SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER - SANDOWN

Rail Position: True

HARRY LIME - Race 5, 2.35pm, 1600m, J Childs, 57kg
Harry Lime ran a fantastic race to finish third at Flemington last time. He was returning from a short let-up and he was held up for clear running at a crucial stage which stemmed his momentum, but once he got out he savaged the line. He’s taken great benefit from it and we’re excited to see him step up to the mile as we’ve always been confident he’ll relish it, so it has the potential to bring about significant improvement. He’s drawn nicely in barrier 4 so Jordan will be able to roll forward from there to make his own luck on or close to the speed, and he’s shown plenty of ability in his short career to date so whilst this is his toughest task yet, we think he’s capable of being extremely competitive.

VAUBAN - Race 9, 5.05pm, 2400m, B Shinn, 59kg
We didn’t get the desired result with Vauban in the Melbourne Cup. However, he’s come through it in great shape so there’s no reason he can’t improve on his effort in this race. He’s drawn the widest gate in barrier 13 and he’s been ridden both prominently and cold in the past, so he’s a versatile horse and Blake will do his homework and discuss with us pre-race where he wants to land in the run. We’re confident he’s taken further benefit from his Melbourne Cup run so he strips fitter here, and ultimately we know he has the ability to be competitive in a race of this nature. Fingers crossed he’s on a going day and applies himself, as we’d love to see him run a big race.

SUPERFABULISTIC - Race 10, 5.40pm, 1500m, B Melham, 56kg
Superfabulistic comes into this race in excellent form after winning so impressively over 1600 metres at Flemington on Saturday. That was her toughest task to date but it was a very dominant performance, and she appears to have come through the run in great order so whilst the quick backup is always a query all the signs at home are positive. She drops back slightly in distance here to 1500 metres which is rarely our preference, however this is a great opportunity for her to gain some valuable Black Type in a race that’s confined to her own sex. Sandown’s an expansive track and she’s drawn well in barrier 4, so Ben should be able to use her tactical speed to land in a forward position and travel in a handy spot in running. You can never rule out a mare in form and she’s certainly that, so whilst this demands more we expect her to rise to the occasion and show us what she’s really capable of.

TOMATO TOASTIE - Race 10, 5.40pm, 1500m, B Shinn, 56kg
Tomato Toastie comes into this race off a fantastic second placing in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes at Flemington last time. She finished off strongly there so we’re excited to see her get out to 1500 metres here as it will bring about yet further improvement, and she should be well suited by the big track at Sandown which adds further confidence. She has drawn well in barrier three and she couldn’t have a better rider aboard than Blake, so he should be able to position her in a forward position and enjoy all the favours in the run. Her latest run was extremely encouraging and she has been pleasing us in her subsequent work, so we are hoping she can build on that performance and be right there at the finish once more.

SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER - NEWCASTLE

Rail Position: True

STELLAR AMI - Race 1, 12.35pm, 900m, R Bayliss, 54.5kg
Stellar Ami is firing on all cylinders ahead of her first start. She has drawn barrier nine which gives Regan Bayliss a little work to do early, but her natural speed should allow her to put herself into the race. The 900 metres looks an ideal starting point given the speed she showed in her trial, and we have been very pleased with how she has progressed since then. She is a filly we’ve always held in high regard and she does everything very easily at home, so Adrian and I are looking forward to seeing her translate that to race day and we expect her to be hard to beat.

CAMPALDINO - Race 9, 5.20pm, 2300m, T Clark, 59kg
Campaldino has not been able to reproduce his best form so far this preparation. However, the step up from the 2000 metres he faced last time to 2300 metres will give him an opportunity to turn things around. His proven class is well established, having won both the Group 2 Brisbane Cup over 3200 metres and the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2400 metres last year. Barrier six is a good draw, and while 59kg is a substantial impost, he has the credentials to be competitive and we’ve put the blinkers on to try something different and hopefully rejuvenate him somewhat. It’s hard to be entirely confident, but Adrian and I are hoping the step back up in trip brings about an improved performance.

SAVVY SPY - Race 9, 5.20pm, 2300m, L Beuzelin, 53kg
Savvy Spy heads to Newcastle in outstanding form having won his last three starts. He’s bounced through Saturday’s win in magnificent order and has continued to thrive since, so whilst he’s on a seven-day backup and you never quite know how they’ll handle it until you try we can’t fault him at home. He’s stepping up in grade markedly so this is going to be much tougher, but the positives are he only has 53kg on his back and he’s a rapidly progressive gelding who’s won his last two starts with plenty in hand. As such, we think he’s got the upside to cope with this challenge. He’s drawn well in barrier 4 so Louis will look to get some cover as these tactics have been successful all preparation, and he should be able to settle into a comfortable rhythm in the run. He’s encountering a different calibre of rival here so we’re under no illusions that he needs to lift, but we think he can do so and put himself in the finish.

SHANGRI LA BOY - Race 10, 5.55pm, 1300m, L Beuzelin, 57kg
Shangri La Boy has had three trials ahead of his return, so he’s as fit as we can get him and he’s continued to delight us at home since his most recent hit out at Warwick Farm. He’s drawn ideally in barrier two and Louis knows him well having ridden him at home, so he’ll be positive from there to try and land in a handy position. 1300 metres is short of his optimum trip so it’s very much a starting point for him, but we’ve put blinkers on to ensure he’s as sharp and focused as possible and we think he’s got the tactical speed to be effective. This is also his first racing preparation since being gelded which many regard as the ultimate gear change, so he’s got the potential to improve a lot this time in and we see no reason why he won’t be hitting the line strongly to get things off to an exciting start.