Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

Friday 19th DECEMBER - GOULBURN

Rail Position: True

WHACK ATTACK - Race 5, 1400m, L Beuzelin 57.0kg

Whack Attack is delighting Adrian and I ahead of this race. He gave us a great thrill when winning at Canberra with Louis on board, and he showed how tough he was under pressure as he kept finding right through the line which is a trait that will stand him in good stead as he steps up in grade here. He has taken plenty of benefit from that outing, and we’ve been able to keep him ticking over nicely at him so he's had a seamless fortnight between runs. He needed every yard of the 1300 metres to prevail at Canberra, so the step up to 1400 metres is a very suitable next step for him at this stage of the preparation. It's never easy for horses on their first foray outside of maiden grade, however a Class 1 at this level is about as gentle a steppingstone as you'll ever find so it's a lovely pathway for him. Louis will be positive from barrier 4 to get him flowing along in a good rhythm as he'll appreciate a genuinely run race, and we know he'll be down for the fight when challenged which adds confidence. He ticks a lot of boxes, so we expect him to run a very competitive race and be right in the finish.

Friday 19th DECEMBER - CANTERBURY PARK

Rail Position: +4m Entire

SISU SPIRIT - Race 5,1550m, R Bayliss 57.5kg

Sisu Spirit is progressing very nicely at home ahead of his second-up run this preparation. It was a frustrating watch first-up as he was a victim of having nowhere to go in the home straight, and if he'd had a clear run we're confident he would've won or gone extremely close. It's one of those things, but the run has brought him on nicely and this step up to 1550 metres is ideal for him at this stage of the preparation. He's drawn well in barrier 2 which is a positive as this 1550 metre start at Canterbury only has a short run to the first turn, so he should be able to land in a handy spot and hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened last time. From there, Regan will let him travel where he's comfortable in the run and build into the race at the right time to ensure he's well positioned when the tempo lifts. This is a step up in grade so he needs to produce a career best, but we think he's got the right conditions to do so and we hope to see him saluting the judge for you all.

ITALIAN SPIRIT - Race 2, 1550m, R Bayliss 57.5kg

Italian Spirit is delighting Adrian and myself ahead of his second run. He ran extremely well on debut where he was a consummate professional, settling into a lovely rhythm and travelling beautifully throughout before finding just the short-priced favourite slightly too sharp for him in the run to the line. The fourth placed horse has since given the form a nice little boost when winning a $60k Super Maiden at Newcastle last week, and he's taken tremendous benefit from that experience, both mentally and physically. Furthermore, his latest gallop on Tuesday morning was fantastic so Adrian and I certainly can't fault him ahead of this run. He's stepping up to 1550 metres which looks ideal for him at this stage of his preparation, as he's bred to improve as he gets out in trip. He's effectively drawn barrier 8 after the scratchings, so Regan will be positive from the gates because it's a short run to the first turn and we want to try and avoid being posted too deep in the run if we can avoid it. If he can get to the front, or close to it, and settle into a comfortable rhythm it will only aid his finishing effort. This is a step up in grade and he's taking on some more experienced rivals with deeper form lines, so it's not going to be easy. However, he's a likeable gelding with a willing attitude which will take him a long way, and we hope to see him fighting out the finish.

Friday 19th DECEMBER - GOLD COAST

Rail Position: 2 metres Entire Course

LUMBINI - Race 5,1000m, T Clark 55.0kg

Lumbini is delighting Adrian and myself ahead of her debut. She has travelled up to Eagle Farm and settled in beautifully, with Virender who's been looking after her reporting that she's thriving. She was impressive when winning her latest trial at Canterbury, and her two solid hit outs have given her the perfect fitness base to kick off her career over 1000 metres. She's drawn to do no work from barrier 1, so Tim will be positive from there to try and hold a handy spot as having the rail as a guide is invaluable for these inexperienced youngsters. She's got the tongue tie on to aid her breathing and of the trial form on offer, hers is some of the strongest which adds confidence. We think she is very well placed to run a big race here, so we hope to see her passing the post in first place to get her career off to the best possible start. 

Saturday 20th DECEMBER - RANDWICK

Rail Position: +4m Entire

SHIKI- Race 1,1000m, T Clark 55.0kg

Shiki is delighting Adrian and I ahead of her return. She's really filled out and grown into herself since her winning debut in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes back in October, so she's a stronger and more robust filly now. Her two winning trials have been fantastic, and Tim didn't move a muscle in her latest one so he still had a tonne of horse underneath him if required. She's a ball of muscle and has plenty of speed, so 1000 metres is no issue for her and she should be able to put her previous experience to good use to roll forward from barrier 7 and make her own luck on the speed. She's the only horse in the field with previous experience which counts for a lot at this level, and the set weights conditions of this race means she's unpenalised for her Group 3 win and carries 55kg like all the other fillies so she is technically very well in. The rest of the field are unraced and of course one of them could be an absolute superstar, but she comes into the race as the best credentialed horse in the field and she will take a hell of a lot of beating.

VIRGIL'S GIFT - Race 9, 1400m, R King 52.0kg

Virgil's Gift is delighting us ahead of this race. She was excellent when winning at Kensington last time, where Rachel rolled along at the right tempo, pinched a break from the rest of the field on the corner and your filly then sustained a strong effort all the way to the line. The fourth placed horse Mother Goose has since come out and won a Benchmark 72 Handicap against the boys at Canterbury which is hard to do, so that's a significant form boost for your filly. She herself is rising in grade quite noticeably here, so it is going to be tougher, however it's the right steppingstone for her against her own sex and we think she's got the necessary upside to rise to the challenge. Rachel knows her very well now, and she'll be positive from barrier 10 to utilise her early speed and land in a forward position where she can get into a comfortable rhythm. She's a filly with plenty of ability who's improving each time she steps out at the races, so if she continues on this upwards trajectory we see no reason why she won't be right there at the finish once again. 

CATOGGIO - Race 10,1300m, J Parr 59.5kg

Catoggio has been in great form since returning to Randwick and he’s had a seamless few weeks leading up to this race. He was unlucky not to win a Benchmark 84 Handicap at Caulfield two back, and he then wasn't disgraced when battling on gamely to finish fourth in a Listed race most recently. These are two strong pieces of form to now bring to a Benchmark 78 Handicap, so whilst he has 60kg he's good enough to shoulder it and Josh is a natural heavyweight rider which means he'll carry minimal deadweight. 1300 metres on the stiff track at Randwick should be ideal for him, and Josh will be positive from barrier 11 to try and work forward and land in a prominent position where he can bowl along at an even tempo. He's a very tough and honest gelding who rarely runs a bad race, and he looks well placed to be fighting out the finish once again here.