Gai's Tip Sheet
THURSDAY 15th MAY – HAWKESBURYRail Position: +2m 1100m-450m, True RemainderSHANGRI LA IMPACT (Race 8, 4.40pm, 2000m, T Clark, 55kg)Shangri La Impact has run two excellent races thus far this preparation. She was most unlucky to not get the win at Canterbury last time, but she fought on strongly and showed a terrific attitude which was great to see. All she does is gallop so we’re looking forward to stretching her out to 2000 metres here, and Tim got a good feel for her last time so he’ll be positive from barrier 9 to settle her in a forward position. Hawkesbury’s an expansive track which should suit her racing pattern, and whilst it's difficult for a maiden to take on seven previous winners she’s got the necessary upside over this longer trip to be right there at the finish.FRIDAY 16th MAY – SCONERail Position: TrueMAJOR BEEL (Race 7, 4.05pm, 1600m, A Hyeronimus, 56kg)Major Beel is delighting us ahead of this outing. His first-up run was a pass mark, but as Adam said it was run at a very solid tempo which had him at his top throughout and he then didn’t have the clearest of runs at a crucial stage. Importantly, he’s come through it in great order and he’s certainly taken plenty of physical improvement from it, so he’s fitter and tighter in condition here. The step up to the mile will suit him, and whilst we know he’ll improve again over further later in the preparation we didn’t want to rush him there and this gradual increase will give him the right fitness foundation. Scone’s a lovely expansive track which should suit his racing pattern, and Adam will be positive from barrier 12 to sit as close to the speed as is comfortable for him. This race is never easy, and this year is no exception with the lowest rated horse prior to the emergencies being 94. However, last year’s winner was rated 100 and carried 1kg more than your gelding does, so if he can put his best foot forward we see no reason why he won’t be extremely effective and we hope to see him run a big race.SATURDAY 17th MAY – DOOMBENRail Position: True OSMOSE (Race 4, 1.33pm, 1600m, T Clark, 54kg)Osmose is delighting us ahead of her first start. Missing last week’s 1400 metre race might’ve been a blessing in disguise as she should be able to get into a better rhythm over this slightly longer trip, on what we hope is a much better surface. She doesn’t usually show electric gate speed, but Tim will be as proactive as possible from barrier 4 to try and get her racing as close to the speed as she’s able to. She’s run several good races in Queensland previously, so we know she likes it up north, but she can mix her form first-up. If she enjoys a smooth run in transit we see no reason why she won’t be hitting the line strongly and running a big race, so fingers crossed she can resume with a bang.SIR DELIUS (Race 6, 2.43pm, 2000m, T Clark, 60kg)We couldn’t be more excited to see Sir Delius at the races. His three trials have been excellent, and they’ve given him the right fitness foundation to kick off over the 2000 metres. All his racing in France was over 2100-2400 metres and he won a Group 3 and placed in a Group 1, so the handicapper hasn’t missed him and he shoulders top weight of 60kg as a result. However, he brings extremely strong form to Australia and we can also be confident that he’ll eat up every yard of the 2000 metres first-up, so we think he can defy the large impost. Tim knows him well from his trials and will let him land where he’s comfortable from barrier 6, but he’ll likely sit close to the speed. He has the most fantastic temperament for a stallion and he’s taken everything in his stride since arriving in Queensland, so given he’s also got plenty of wet track form this looks to be a lovely starting point for him and we expect him to be right there at the finish. SHANGRI LA SPRING (Race 9, 4.38pm, 2000m, T Clark, 57kg)Shangri La Spring lost nothing in defeat when finishing fourth in the Queensland Guineas last time. We knew the drop back to 1600 metres would make him vulnerable and so it proved, but it was very much a steppingstone to this contest. He’ll relish stretching back out to 2000 metres, and over this longer distance he should hopefully be able to lead at a comfortable tempo and dictate to his rivals as he did when winning the Frank Packer Plate two back. There’s only one horse rated his superior so he’s right up there as one to beat, and we expect him to be very hard to run down. SATURDAY 17th MAY – SCONERail Position: +2m 800m-400m; True RemainderSTARDOM (Race 3, 12.15pm, 1100m, A Hyeronimus, 56kg)Stardom has thrived since her latest win at Wagga. She took the natural improvement we expected to see from her debut performance and didn’t give her rivals a chance to get near her. She relished the step up in trip, and she’s continued to come on in leaps and bounds since then. She’s dropping back in trip to 1100 metres here which is not our usual modus operandi, but we’ve spaced her gallops and kept her nice and fresh as a result so we think she can handle it. This race is confined to her own age and sex which is always our preference, so despite the slight drop in trip we think it’s well worth going for gold to try and gain some all-important Black type. Adam knows how to ride our horses effectively so he’ll get her into a prominent position from barrier 9 where she can travel comfortably, and we expect her to be suited by the expansive track at Scone. This is a big step up in grade from Wagga, but she deserves her chance to prove herself at this level and we hope to see her right there at the finish.GERRINGONG (Race 7, 2.35pm, 1100m, W Costin, 55.5kg)Gerringong is ticking all the right boxes ahead of her first-up run. She was most progressive last preparation, taking out her maiden before beating older mares emphatically and she then rounded out her campaign in an uber competitive $3mil. slot race where, if you take the impressive winner Private Harry out of it, she was only 2 lengths from the second placed horse. The form of that race has worked out extremely well with Private Harry going on to win a Group 1, Lady Of Camelot placing in several Group 1s, Spicy Martini and Arabian Summer both winning Stakes races and El Morzillo winning the $1mil. Inglis Sprint. As such, she was beaten by some top-class horses which suggests she herself can measure up in Stakes races herself. She’s resuming in a competitive Listed race so it’s not going to be easy, but it’s against her own age and sex which is always our preference so as such it’s a wonderful opportunity for her to gain some valuable Black type. Winona will let her land where she’s comfortable from barrier 6, but she will have enough speed in her legs at the outset of her campaign to settle in a handy position. Her trials have been most encouraging and her subsequent trackwork has been fantastic, so if she gets a bit of luck and puts her best foot forward we think she’s more than capable of saluting the judge.THE NOVELIST (Race 8, 3.10pm, 1100m, W Costin, 53kg)The Novelist is thriving ahead of his first start this preparation. He took plenty of improvement from his first trial to win his most recent one in comfortable fashion with his ears pricked, and he’s continued on an upwards trajectory since then. He was all speed early in his career and he’s still a very fast horse, but last time in 1200 metres seemed to be his sweet spot as he showed when winning at Kembla before running second at Wyong and Gold Coast. As such, we think this is a lovely race to kick him off in and Scone’s an inviting track which should suit his racing style of being on pace and making his own luck from the front. He’s got no weight on his back with 53kg, so Winona will let him roll forward from barrier 10 to establish himself in a forward position on or near the speed. There will be improvement to come with the benefit of a run, but he’s forward enough to run a big race and we expect him to give it a good shake. THE INSTRUCTOR (Race 10, 4.30pm, 1300m, A Hyeronimus, 56kg)The Instructor lost no admirers in defeat when finishing third at Wagga last time. He had a big weight and conceding 3.5-6kg to the first two was too big an ask on the day, but he still ran his heart out. He’s back up in grade to a Listed race here which is what he won two back at Mornington, and he carries 2kg more here with Adam doing 56kg so he needs to keep improving but we think he’s done just that. The step up to 1300 metres doesn’t concern us as he’s won up to 1400 metres previously, albeit in lesser grade, so given he’s deep into his preparation now it should be well within reach. Scone’s a lovely expansive track which we expect to suit him well, and Adam will utilise his good gate speed to get into a forward position from his outside barrier where he can hopefully either control the race or sit close to the leaders and enjoy an economical run. He’s as honest as the day is long and he has a terrific winning record, so whilst this likely requires a career best effort we think he can rise to the challenge and be fighting out the finish. SATURDAY 17th MAY – KEMBLARail Position: +9m 1100m-W/Post, +6m RemainderSTEEL RAIN (Race 2, 12.35pm, 1200m, L Beuzelin, 55kg)Steel Rain is pleasing us ahead of his first start for the stable. His two trials have been satisfactory without setting the world alight, but they were both over 1050 metres and he simply needs to get over ground to be effective. As such, he’s resuming over 1200 metres which is a suitable enough starting point but there’s no doubt he’ll improve with racing and as he gets out over further in time. However, Kembla’s an expansive track with a long home straight so it will certainly give him every chance to hit top stride and attack the line. Louis got a good feel for him in his latest trial and has ridden him on plenty of occasions at home so he knows him well, and he’ll be positive from barrier 6 to settle him in as prominent a position as possible. He’ll take great benefit from this run but he’s still forward enough to run a big race, and we hope to see him hitting the line strongly to get his preparation off to an encouraging start.SATURDAY 17th MAY – FLEMINGTONRail Position: +4M Entire MILITARY MISSION (Race 7, 3.30pm, 2800m, J Stanley, 58.5kg)Military Mission was forced to cover more ground than Burke and Wills in the Warrnambool Cup last time and it just told late as he got a bit tired in the final furlong. He’s taken further improvement from that run, and we’re looking forward to seeing him over 2800 metres as we think it’ll suit him down to the ground third-up in his preparation. We’ve put blinkers on him as he’s raced well in them in the past when he first arrived from the U.K., and now that he’s getting older and slightly long in the tooth he might just be keeping a bit back for himself so they should liven him up nicely. Jett rides our horses effectively and whilst your gelding rarely shows enough gate speed to lead, it might be a different proposition over this longer trip so he’ll be as positive as possible from the barriers to get him rolling along at a comfortable tempo. He’s racing on his home track and he’s got plenty going for him, so if he can recapture his best form we see no reason why he can’t feature in the finish.SUNDAY 18th MAY – CASTERTONRail Position: TrueROAD RUNNER (Race 3, 1.10pm, 3500m, T Ryan, 66kg)Road Runner was always just doing a bit too much in front at Warrnambool last time and this left him vulnerable over the concluding stages. He was pestered by a horse to his outside throughout, so his rider couldn’t get a breather into him and we know he’s better than he was able to show so you can be forgiving of his finishing position. His work since then has been of a very high standard, so he’s holding his form well and we can’t fault him at home. Tom Ryan’s one of the leading jump jockeys in Australia so we are thrilled to secure his services, and hopefully he can enjoy an easier time of things up front here and bowl along at a more even tempo where he can conserve some energy. This represents a drop in grade and we expect him to bounce back to his best and be right there at the finish.NOTABADBUY (Race 8, 4.25pm, 2000m, J Stanley, 56kg)Notabadbuy gave us all an almighty thrill when winning so convincingly at Warrnambool last time. It’s particularly pleasing to see him improving as he gets deeper into his preparation this time in, and he’s thriving on his racing. He ran out a strong 1700 metres on a soft track last time so he’s ready for this step up in trip, and he’s won over 2000 metres at Canberra previously so we know he stays. He’s gradually creeping up in the ratings, but this looks to be a lovely and, most importantly, winnable race for him. Teo almost won on him at Sandown two runs ago so he hops back aboard here, and he’ll be positive from barrier 13 to try and clear the field and get him rolling along in front as he loves to do. He’s fit and well, so if he continues his upwards trajectory he should be very hard to beat here.
