Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER - FLEMINGTON

Rail Position: True Entire Circuit

Surfin' Bird - Race 6, 3.40pm, 1600m, J Childs, 56kg

Adrian and I are delighted with how Surfin' Bird has come through her impressive win in the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield last time out. She travelled beautifully just outside the leader before taking control in the straight and racing away to win by two lengths, giving us all a great thrill. She has been thriving since arriving in Melbourne and continues to go from strength to strength, so it was particularly pleasing to see her record her first stakes victory in such convincing fashion. She has an excellent record over 1600 metres and we know how much she enjoys racing over this distance. She has drawn nicely in barrier 7 and Jordan knows her very well, so he should be able to use her natural speed to roll forward and find a prominent position. This is a step up in grade against some very experienced boys, but she is going into the race in terrific order and we expect her to run a very bold race for you all.

Sir Delius - Race 8, 5.10pm, 2040m, C Williams, 56kg

Adrian and I are delighted with how Sir Delius is going ahead of this assignment. He chased a very strong tempo on heavy ground in the Turnbull and Craig felt the conditions and race pattern took their toll. He has come through that run in terrific shape, and with two runs under his belt his fitness is now right up to the mark. We know how effective he is around 2000 metres, he has drawn beautifully in barrier 5 and Craig knows him exceptionally well, so he should be able to use his natural speed to find a prominent position and get into a comfortable rhythm. This is the race we have been working towards all preparation, and with his experience and proven Group 1 ability, we expect him to run a very bold race for you all. We hope to see you all in the Winner's Circle.

SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER - RANDWICK

Rail Position: +6m Entire

Our Emperor - Race 4, 2.00pm, 1200m, R Bayliss, 56kg

Adrian and I are delighted with how Our Emperor is going ahead of this race. He improved upon his first up run last time, and he faced very strong company on both occasions, but we feel those experiences will serve him well. He now drops back into Listed company, and with those two runs under his belt his fitness should be right up to the mark. He looks terrific and is very happy within himself, so we feel he may have just needed those runs to bring him to this point. He has drawn beautifully in barrier 2, which should allow Regan to use his natural speed to find a handy position without doing too much work early. While we do expect to see him improve over further, this six horse field for very good prizemoney is too good an opportunity to pass up. We expect to see a much stronger performance from him this time and hope to see him right there fighting out the finish.

Revengeance - Race 5, 2.40pm, 1600m, T Clark, 57kg

Adrian and I have been very pleased with Revengeance leading into Saturday, and we still hold him in very high regard. He has had little luck throughout this preparation, particularly last start when forced to race wide without cover, and we feel his recent results have not been a true reflection of his ability. The step up to 1600 metres will suit him, and with a small field on Saturday, we are hopeful he can enjoy a more economical run and be given every opportunity to show his best. He has continued to thrive at home, and we remain confident that he has plenty of improvement to come. We are looking forward to seeing him back at the races and expect him to be in the finish.

Thrice - Race 10, 6.05pm, 1600m, W Costin, 52kg

Adrian and I are very pleased with how Thrice is going ahead of his return to the races. We were tossing up between this race and the Benchmark 88 Handicap on Wednesday but the latter only received six nominations, so we cannot take the risk as it's likely they'll call it off. He has had three trials to prepare for this, making steady improvement and most recently finishing a good second at Randwick over 1200 metres. Those hit outs have given him a solid fitness base for his first up run, and he looks to have come back in great order. He is a Group 3 winner in Ireland over 2000 metres, so we know he has plenty of staying ability and will appreciate stepping out over further as his preparation progresses. However, we feel 1600 metres is a suitable starting point for him. He has drawn nicely in barrier 5, carries a featherlight 52kg, and Winona will get him into a comfortable rhythm and give him every chance. There will be natural improvement to come from this run, but we are excited to get his preparation underway and expect him to run a competitive race for you all.

Major Beel - Race 10, 6.05pm, 1600m, T Clark, 56.5kg

Adrian and I are pleased with how Major Beel is going ahead of his return to the races. He is looking terrific and we are excited to see him back at Randwick over 1600 metres, a course and distance he has won at before. Tim knows him extremely well, having partnered him to victory in the Australian Derby and a Benchmark 94 here at Randwick. We know the quality he possesses when he is at his best, and whilst there will be natural improvement to come from this first up run as he gets out towards 2000 metres and beyond, we feel the mile is a lovely starting point for him. He has been pleasing us in his work and looks very happy within himself, so we expect him to run a bold race for you all.

SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER - KEMBLA GRANGE

Rail Position: +4m Entire

Loreal Belle - Race 1, 1.04pm, 1200m, L Beuzelin, 58kg

Adrian and I have been very pleased with how Loreal Belle has come on since her latest run. She was a good fourth at Kembla Grange over 1400 metres last time out, where she led for much of the way and just weekend over the final furlong. She has continued to please us in her work since. She now drops back to 1200 metres, which we feel will suit her natural speed, and with three runs under her belt this preparation her fitness is right up to the mark. She is going well at home and we expect her to run a very competitive race for you and hopefully break her maiden.

Imperial Code - Race 4, 3.04pm, 1400m, L Beuzelin, 58kg

Adrian and I have been very pleased with how Imperial Code has come on since his debut and we are looking forward to seeing him back at the races. He was a little distracted at Canterbury over 1250 metres but showed good early speed before weakening late on a heavy track. He has since been gelded and has had three trials to prepare for his return, which have given him a good fitness grounding. We expect him to be a more mature horse with that first race experience behind him, and the step up to 1400 metres looks suitable at this stage. We are hopeful the drier ground will suit him better this time and he has continued to improve in his work at home. We expect to see a much more competitive performance from him this time and hope he can be right there fighting out the finish.

TUESDAY 24th OCTOBER - FLEMINGTON

Rail Position: True Entire Circuit

Adrian and I are looking forward to seeing Shanti back at the races for her third run this preparation. She made a very encouraging debut at Hawkesbury, finishing a close third where she showed plenty of natural speed and was only narrowly beaten. She was unlucky at Rosehill last time out, but she has now had two races to build her fitness and that experience will stand her in good stead. She now steps up to 1350 metres for the first time, and we know the extra distance to suit her. She has drawn barrier 9, so Winona will look to get her into a comfortable rhythm in the run and give her every chance. She is looking terrific and we hope to see her build on the promise she showed on debut and run a very competitive race for you all.