Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse Gais Tip Sheet

WEDNESDAY 19th AUGUST - WARWICK FARM

Rail Position: True

BLESSED EAGLE - Race 1, 1.25pm, 1100m, T Clark, 58kg
Blessed Eagle is delighting us ahead of his first start. He has had two encouraging trials at Randwick, winning his latest one in stylish fashion and these hit outs have given him a very good fitness base and educational grounding for a high-pressure 1100 metre race first-up. Warwick Farm is a very fair track that regularly suits our horses’ racing patterns, so we expect Tim to be positive early from barrier 8 to try and have him in a handy position where he can make his own luck on or close to the lead. He’s been a very straightforward and professional colt thus far, and this temperament will take him a long way. He's shown us plenty of talent in his trials so we think he's capable of making his presence known in this grade, and we’re looking forward to seeing him run a very competitive race for you to get his career off to an exciting start.

WENDELL - Race 2, 2.00pm, 1300m, R Bayliss, 57kg
Wendell ran an encouraging race when resuming at Wyong, finding only horse too strong for him in the run to the line. He’s taken plenty of improvement from it so he’s both fitter and more streetwise coming into this run, and the step up to 1300 metres on a more expansive track is going to suit him. He’s drawn well enough in barrier in 8 so Regan should be able to flow forward from there, land close to the speed and get into a comfortable rhythm so that he can conserve energy in the middle stages of the contest. We have plenty of success at Warwick Farm and we think the conditions of this race will suit him enormously, so whilst it’s a step up in grade he’s got the upside to cope with it and we expect him to give it a good shake.

THE LITTLE GENERAL - Race 7, 4.55pm, 1200m, T Clark, 57kg
The Little General bounced back to his best with a terrific second at Canterbury last time. He’s up in grade here to a Benchmark 72 having contested races of slightly lesser grade thus far this preparation, so it’s going to be tougher. However, he’s fourth-up and racing well so we think he deserves a shot in this grade, plus he gets some weight relief as a result which is not to be shrugged at. He’s got the speed to roll forward from barrier 15 and get across into a better position, and Tim should be able to get him travelling comfortably in the middle stages. He’ll appreciate the step up to 1200 metres at this stage of his campaign and he ticks a lot of boxes, so hopefully he can keep improving and give this a good shake.