Gai's Tip Sheet
SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER – RANDWICKRail Position: RAIL - +5m 1600m-W/Post, +3m Remainder.ANODE (Race 5, 2.50pm, 1600m, T Clark, 57kg)We were all delighted to see Anode gain a long overdue victory in his latest start at Rosehill. He deserved to land a valuable contest, and he’s taken plenty of confidence from his terrific win. This is a Group 2 worth $1mil. so it's no walkover, but again he's the top rated horse in the race and faces his rivals at set weights so he's technically well in. The biggest query is the step up to the mile, as he was all out to win over 1400 metres last time. However, Tim will be mindful of this and ride him accordingly from barrier 6, but our horses do tend to improve as they stretch out in trip so we're quietly confident he'll cope with it. He’s a joy to train and as tough as they come, so we are hopeful that he will be too strong for them in the run to the line once again.CONVERGE (Race 6, 3.25pm, 1800m, T Clark, 59kg)The shape of race the didn’t suit Converge first-up. The wide barrier in a big field over a distance short of his best made it difficult for him to get into the contest. However, we were encouraged with how he finished off through the line, and he’s come through the race in pleasing shape. He showed excellent improvement from his first to second start last preparation when almost winning the Group 2 Lord Mayor’s Cup, so we are hopeful that he can do just that again here stepping out in trip. Tim will settle him where he's comfortable from barrier 13, and hopefully he can put his best foot forward and get his head back in front for you all.NEW ENDEAVOUR (Race 6, 3.25pm, 1800m, A Hyeronimus, 59kg)We were slightly disappointed with New Endeavour’s finishing effort in his last start, but he’s a tough gelding and he has been bouncing around the stables since that outing. His gallop on Tuesday morning was excellent, and his fitness is right where we want it to be at this stage in the preparation. He reverts to Randwick for this assignment, and bringing him back to his home track which he knows very well could prove to be the key to him putting his best foot forward. We don't see the slight drop back in trip to 1800 metres being an issue, and Adam will try to roll forward from barrier 11 to get across into a better position. As you would expect, this is a very competitive race. However, he’s hard fit at this stage in the campaign and if he turns up in the right headspace he's capable of running competitively and being right there at the finish.TOWNSEND (Race 10, 6.10pm, 1600m, R King, 52kg).Townsend has been progressing nicely since his most recent trial at Randwick just under two weeks ago. His three trials this time in have given him a good fitness foundation ahead of this first-up run, and we have been delighted with the progress he has shown in each outing as well as in his subsequent trackwork. He was highly tried as a 2 year old where he was competing in Group 1 company in only his third career start, so he’s always shown a good level of ability. We've all been incredibly patient with him since then, but it's paying dividends as he's matured into an imposing individual. He’s first-up from a long absence but he's done plenty of work, so he’s ready to go and the 1600 metres is a good starting point as he'd be too outpaced over anything shorter. He responded well to the blinkers in his latest trial so we've kept them on to ensure he's focused, and Rachel will be positive from barrier 11 to roll forward as we'd like him to get into a prominent position where he can get into a comfortable rhythm. Whilst we expect improvement to come as he gets deeper into his campaign and as he stretches out over further, he's forward enough to do himself justice so we expect to see him to show up well for a long way to get his preparation off to an encouraging start.SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER – MOONEE VALLEYRail Position: RAIL - True Entire Circuit
ROYAL PATRONAGE (Race 9, 5.10pm, 2040m, M Dee, 59kg)Royal Patronage ran another solid race in his most recent start and battled on bravely to the line once again. He was backing up after a tough run in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, but we've been able to freshen him up nicely since and he's settled into our Flemington stable extremely well since his arrival. The form of his runs so far this campaign is working out extremely well, as Ceolwulf who finished just ahead of him in the Group 1 Epsom when receiving weight scored another Group 1 victory in the King Charles III Stakes last weekend at weight for age level. Moonee Valley is a unique track, so his gallop there on Tuesday morning gave him some valuable experience there which will stand him in good stead for raceday. He’s drawn well in barrier 3, so Michael will be positive form here to get him rolling along into a forward position where he can travel comfortably and get into a good rhythm most likely in behind the likely leader Pride Of Jenni. This is a time honored race so it's an elite field and a very competitive contest as you would expect, but he's a talented horse and we are hopeful that he's got what it takes to be featuring in the finish. OSMOSE (Race 10, 5.50pm, 2040m, J Childs, 56.5kg)We were disappointed with Osmose’s finishing effort in her last start, but we feel that you can put a line through that performance as not much came from off the pace at Caulfield that day. She’s come through that outing very well, and her trackwork has been good all preparation so we just need her to show what she is capable of doing on the racetrack now. Her coat has started to turn and she looks very well at this stage in the campaign though, so hopefully she's starting to peak at the right time. She's drawn wide in barrier 12 and how she jumps will be crucial. If she's fast out and into stride, she'll have the opportunity to come across and get into a handy position near the speed. If she dwells, as she tends to do, she will be forced to come back and be ridden for luck which isn't ideal around this tight circuit. We'll leave it in Jordan's capable hands though, and if she rediscovers her best form she's more than capable of fighting out the finish. SUNDAY 27TH OCTOBER – SALERail Position: RAIL - True Entire CircuitCOIN TOSS (Race 7, 4.30pm, 1600m, J Childs, 57kg)We were a bit disappointed with Coin Toss’s finishing effort first-up. However, it was a high pressure 1400 metre race and he never had a moment to find a comfortable rhythm which left him vulnerable late. He's a tough gelding though who's come through that outing in good shape, and his gallop on Wednesday morning was excellent. He’s open to plenty of improvement second-up stretching out in trip to the mile, and we expect the expansive track at Sale to suit him well. Barrier 9 is a bit tricky, but he’s got good gate speed and Jordan will be positive from there to get him rolling forward and hopefully secure the lead so that he can get into a comfortable rhythm that enables him to dictate the race to the others. We expect to see a much-improved display with the benefit of race fitness under his belt, and if he puts his best foot forward we’re confident he will be competitive for a long way.
