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Gai & Adrian TV 11th October 2025

It’s another fantastic weekend of racing for the stable, with a strong contingent heading to Rosehill for what promises to be a thrilling day, featuring two runners in both the Listed Tapp-Craig and the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes.

Gai's Tip Sheet

THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER - HAWKESBURYRail Position:  +4m 1100m - 450m, True remainderFORMAT (Race 6, 4:20pm, 2000m, A Hyeronimus, 60.5kg) Format resumed with an encouraging effort to finish fifth at Kembla. He wasn’t beaten far and that hit out over the mile has brought his fitness on in leaps and bounds. He needs to get over ground to be effective, so with that run under his belt we’re wasting no time in stretching him out to 2000 metres which we know he’ll relish given he’s got winning form over 2100-2400 metres. Adam will be positive from barrier 7 to get him rolling along on or close to the speed, and whilst he may need another run to bring him to peak fitness before we continue stretching him out in trip we still think he’s capable of giving this a good shake.SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER - RANDWICKRail Position:  +3M Entire KAKADU SUNSET (Race 1, 12:30pm, 1400m, T Clark, 58kg) Kakadu Sunset was disappointing at Kensington last time. However, she was beaten by two older horses and she’s also simply looking for further so this step up to 1400 metres is a big positive. Additionally, after taking on older horses in her two races thus far this preparation she now finds herself back against her own age and sex which is another huge tick in our book. She’s drawn well in barrier 4, so the slightly steadier tempo of this longer trip should enable her to travel closer to the speed than she has thus far this preparation. She’s the joint top-rated horse in the field, so whilst there are plenty of potential improvers in opposition there’s no standout so it’s quite an open contest. She needs to bounce back, but we think she’s capable of doing so under these more favourable conditions and hopefully she’s right there at the finish and able to gain some valuable Black type.MAJOR BEEL (Race 3, 1:40pm, 1600m, T Clark, 60kg) Major Beel couldn’t be in better order ahead of his first-up run. His two trials have been encouraging and last week’s exhibition gallop was the perfect tool for putting the finishing touches on him ahead of his resumption. He’s kicking off at the mile which he won over when first-up last spring, so this adds confidence, and he generally shows good gate speed so Tim will be positive from barrier 9 to get him rolling along in his preferred position on or close to the speed. There will be improvement to come as he gets deeper into his campaign, but he’s forward enough to do himself justice and we hope to see him fighting out the finish. DOMINETTA (Race 4, 2:15pm, 1600m, T Clark, 54kg) Dominetta has run two creditable races thus far this preparation. They’ve been in handicaps against boys over inadequate distances of 1200 and 1400 metres, but she’s been building to her peak and whilst she’s now contesting a competitive Stakes race she finds herself back against her own sex and is stretching out to the mile which are two factors that should see her be extremely competitive. She’s drawn a lovely barrier in 1, so whilst Perfumist will probably lead she should be able to land in a handy spot and enjoy a favourable run in transit. We know she relaxes very well in her races, so she should be able to conserve energy mid-race and whilst she’s got a fair bit to find on the ratings, if she gives a good kick rounding the home turn it will give her every chance of fighting out the finish.GERRINGONG (Race 8, 4:50pm, 1300m, T Clark, 54kg) Gerringong excelled herself with a career best effort to finish second behind Group 1 winner Manaal in the Group 2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill last time. Considering it was only two weeks after a hard run in Melbourne it highlighted what a talented and tough mare she is, and she’s certainly thriving on her racing. She’s taken further improvement from that run as she’s absolutely glowing in condition, and her recent work has been excellent. She’s dropping back in trip slightly to 1300 metres which isn’t our usual preference, however this race is a lovely steppingstone towards either the $2mil. The Invitation seven days later, or the $10mil. Golden Eagle the week after that. Tim got a terrific tune out of her last time so he’ll again be positive from her brilliant drawn in barrier 1 to try and land in a forward position, and if she enjoys a smooth run in transit we see no reason why she won’t be right there at the finish.SHANGRI LA SPRING (Race 8, 4:50pm, 1300m, A Hyeronimus, 56.5kg) Shangri La Spring resumed with a terrific effort to be beaten by fewer than two lengths in a competitive Benchmark 94 Handicap over an inadequate 1200 metres. He’s taken plenty of improvement from the run and strips fitter here in a race that’s confined to his own age group, so there is certainly plenty of improvement to come. He’ll appreciate this step up to 1300 metres, and whilst we know he’s still going to need further in time this race is very much a steppingstone to his main target this preparation which is the $10mil. Golden Eagle in two weeks’ time where he’ll relish the extra 200 metres. He’s drawn well in barrier 4 so he should be able to flow forward from there to assume his favoured position at the head of affairs, and we see no reason why he can’t give this a good shake and feature in the finish.ROYAL PATRONAGE (Race 9, 5:35pm, 1609m, T Clark, 59kg)Royal Patronage has had a bit of a stop start preparation and he’s going a month between runs ahead of this contest. However, in this time we’ve been really able to home in on him and his recent work has been fantastic. He’s enjoyed plenty of trips to the beach too, so he’s as fit as we can get him and the fact he’s only second-up against some horses who have had tougher campaigns might turn out to be a good thing. He’s taken good improvement from his first-up run where he was trying to concede plenty of weight to some talented horses, and that outing’s got him spot on for the mile second-up. This is obviously a fiercely competitive race as you’d expect for the money on offer, and Australia’s best weight for age milers are all turning up so it’s going to be a mouthwatering clash. He’s drawn well in barrier 3 so with Pride Of Jenni the likely leader he should get a lovely tow into the race, and if he puts his best foot forward he’s capable of mixing it with the best of these in the run to the line.ROCK EMPIRE (Race 10, 6:10pm, 1400m, R King, 57kg)Rock Empire gave us a huge thrill when gaining a thoroughly deserved win at Kensington last week. He’s bounced through that run in terrific order, and we couldn’t be happier with him ahead of this contest. He’s stepping up in grade again but he’s racing over a more suitable trip than he did first-up, and we do think he’s up to this level. He sticks to 1400 metres for now, but no doubt there will be further improvement to come as he continues to get out in trip this preparation. He’s drawn well in barrier 5 so Rachel should be able to settle him in a prominent position, and we’re hopeful he can keep improving and make his presence known at the business end of the race. SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER - CAULFIELDRail Position:  +3M Entire VAUBAN (Race 9, 5:15pm, 2400m, B Shinn, 58.5kg) Vauban ran a fantastic race in defeat in the Group 1 Metropolitan a fortnight ago. He was conceding weight to the entire field and between 3.5 and 8kg to the first four that finished ahead of him, so it was a mighty effort. He had incredibly limited room inside the final furlong, and there’s a case to be made that he might’ve won if he’d enjoyed an uninterrupted run. However, that’s racing and he lives to fight another day so we’re now incredibly excited to see him contest this time-honoured race. He’s got top weight once again, but he showed last time that’s it not an issue and his class sees him through. He’s got Blake Shinn aboard which is a huge bonus and whilst barrier 13 is a bit sticky, as the expression goes he’ll be out of harm’s way. Caulfield can be a tricky track that doesn’t suit all horses, but he’s such a versatile individual who’s raced the world over including some unique tracks in Europe, so we aren’t concerned and we know he’ll rise to the challenge. Blake will most likely settle him in midfield and conserve some energy so that he can be strong late, as looking at his best form he seems to enjoy having something to chase down so he just needs that all important luck in running. He’s settled in beautifully to our stable in Flemington and hasn’t missed a beat since arriving, so he’s thumping his chest and is going into the race in a brilliant headspace. On Thursday morning a panel of vets came to the stable for his final pre-race trot up. Due to his age and experience, he handled it like a true professional. One of the vets showed me footage of him trotting up at Willie Mullins’ in 2023, and I was amazed at how he’s developed since that time. Even the vet said how much fitter he is. As we say to our children, just two more sleeps to go and Adrian and I really are confident that he can win this race.

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