Gai's Tip Sheet
FRIDAY 20th FEBRUARY - CANTERBURYRail Position: +4M Entire FARFETCHED, Race 1, 1250m, 6.00pm, T Clark, 56.5kgFarfetched has run two excellent races thus far this preparation. She didn’t shirk her task when finishing third at Warwick Farm most recently, and she shaped as though she’ll relish this step up to 1250 metres so it’s got the potential to bring about plenty of improvement third-up. She’s got the speed to roll forward from barrier 9 and get across into a more favourable inside position, and Canterbury’s a track where we have a lot of success so we expect her to go well here. There are two older horses in opposition and it can be hard to beat them, but she deserves her place in the field and we see no reason why she won’t be fighting out the finish once again.FARINDIRA, Race 1, 1250m, 6.00pm, A Hyeronimus, 58.5kgFarindira is in great shape ahead of his first career start. His two trials have given him the right fitness grounding, and we think he’ll be well suited by the 1250 metres first-up as he might just be a bit outpaced over anything shorter. He’s drawn a lovely barrier in 4, so Adam should be able to roll forward from there and race on pace without having to do too much work, and Canterbury’s a track where we have a lot of success so we expect him to go well here. There are two older horses in opposition and it can be hard to beat them, but he deserves his place in the field to show us what he’s capable of and we hope to see him give this a good shake to get his career off to an encouraging start.SAVVY SPY, Race 4, 1550m, 7.30pm, T Clark, 58.5kgSavvy Spy is pleasing us ahead of this run. We expected a bit more from him when he resumed at Kembla a fortnight ago, but that first run outside of maiden grade is never easy and he may have just needed the run more than we thought. He’s taken great benefit from it so he certainly strips fitter here, and we expect him to be well suited by the step up to 1550 metres. Tim will be positive from barrier 9 to try and get across into a better position and avoid being posted wide in the run, and from there he should be able to travel comfortably throughout the middle stages. He’s stepping up to city-grade so he needs to improve, but we’re confident he will and we hope to see him fighting out the finish. ALBANY ROAD, Race 7, 1250m, 9.00pm, R Bayliss, 59kgAlbany Road has been a revelation this preparation. He proved his first-up win at Kensington was no fluke when getting up to win in the last stride over 1100 metres at this track three weeks ago, so he’s really turned over a new leaf since returning two stone lighter. He contests the same grade of race here, but this field has slightly more depth to it than the race he contested last time so it is going to be tougher, as he’s also gone up in the weights too and carries 4kg more here with 59kg on his back. However, he’s a most progressive gelding who’s improving each time we raise the bar for him so we think he’s up to the challenge. He’s drawn to the outside in barrier 9, but Regan knows him well and he’s been riding him with cover this preparation so we expect him to repeat that here and slot in to get a tow into the race. Being ridden this way demands a certain amount of luck in running, but the step up to 1250 metres is a big positive because he’s needed every yard of the 1100 metres to win his races this time in. As such, he will relish it and we think it has the potential to bring about further improvement. He’s full of confidence and if he can keep climbing the ladder we see no reason why he won’t be fighting out the finish once again. FRIDAY 20th FEBRUARY - CANBERRARail Position: True ZOUFIELD, Race 5, 1400m, 3.11pm, W Costin, 59.5kgZoufield is delighting us ahead of his first-up run. He’s had three trials so he’s a fit as he can be, and he had blinkers on in his most recent one which he retains for race day to ensure he’s as focused as possible. He was an impressive winner on debut last preparation so we know he goes well first-up, and he's been gelded since then too which can bring about significant improvement. This is a lovely starting point for him against his own age group, so whilst it's at Canberra it is worth $40k which is well above average for the track and we are keen to seize the opportunity before raising his sights as he gets deeper into his campaign. Winona rides our horses extremely effectively at this level and she will be positive from barrier 5 to try and take control of the race, and with even luck in running we expect him to be too good for them.SATURDAY 21st FEBRUARY - CAULFIELDRail Position: True LADY MOSCATO, Race 8, 1200m, 4.15pm, J McNeil, 55kgLady Moscato has taken the journey to Flemington in her stride. She’s been ticking over nicely since her arrival, and she’s been out on the track trotting and cantering each morning without any issues. She was a beaten favourite at Randwick last time but she might’ve just needed the run more than we expected, so we are confident that she’s got plenty of improvement to come. She’s finally drawn a good barrier in 2, so Jye should be able to roll forward from there without having to do too much work and secure a favourable position either on or just in behind the speed. From there, we expect her to travel comfortably in the run and to be able to conserve her energy mid-race. Caulfield can be a tricky track which doesn’t suit every horse, but she’s a very uncomplicated filly who’s taken everything in her stride thus far and her previous experience travelling interstate to Queensland is going to stand her in extremely good stead here. This is a fiercely competitive race as you’d expect given its status and the money on offer, but she’s going into it in fine fettle and we hope to see her fighting out the finish.SATURDAY 21st FEBRUARY - ROSEHILLRail Position: +5M Entire EVICTION NOTICE, Race 6, 1100m, 3.25pm, A Hyeronimus, 56.5kgEviction Notice ran a very creditable race when resuming to finish third in the Canonbury Stakes. He’s entitled to take plenty of benefit from that run, so whilst on the face of his he has a bit to find with Hidrix and Confederation we’re confident that he’s got more to come second-up. Adam will use his natural speed to his advantage to roll forward from barrier 9, and from there he should be able to get into comfortable rhythm on or close to the speed. This race is a key lead-up to the Golden Slipper so it’s very competitive, but he deserves the opportunity to prove what he’s capable of and we hope he can lift to put himself right in the finish.SHIKI, Race 6, 1100m, 3.25pm, T Clark, 54.5kgShiki ran a brave race at Gold Coast last month. She’s come through the outing in great shape, and the trip away from home has done wonders for her mentally as it always does with two year olds. She’s since returned to Randwick and she trialled impressively at Canterbury a fortnight ago, so she’s ticking over very nicely between runs and we can’t fault her. She’s settled well in her last two starts, so Tim will again try to get a bit of cover so that she can conserve her energy mid-race. This smaller field will probably suit her better than the hurly burly she faced at Gold Coast last time, and we expect her turn of foot to be extremely effective over 1100 metres. This race is a key lead-up to the Golden Slipper so it’s very competitive, but she deserves the opportunity to prove what she’s capable of and we hope she can put herself right in the finish.CAMPALDINO, Race 7, 1900m, 4.00pm, T Clark, 55.5kgCampaldino is delighting us ahead of his return. He won four in a row at the end of last preparation, culminating with victory in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup so he announced himself as a rapidly progressive and talented stayer. He missed the spring, but it means we have a fresh horse on our hands for the autumn and he’s had three trials to ready him for this first-up run so he’s as fit as possible. 1900 metres is a suitable starting point for him as he’d be vulnerable to speedier types over anything shorter, and whilst barrier 20 (14 at worst after scratchings) isn’t ideal he’s probably not got the speed to lead this field so Tim will be positive to try and work across into a more favourable inside position and let him land where he’s comfortable in the run. This is very much the beginning for him and we don’t expect him to be peaking until he gets over further later in his preparation, but he’s ready to do himself justice and we hope to see him hitting the line strongly to get his campaign off to an exciting start.HOO YA MAL, Race 7, 1900m, 4.00pm, R Bayliss, 55.5kgHoo Ya Mal is delighting us ahead of his return. He’s coming back from a long layoff, so this must be taken into consideration. However, he’s had three trials to ready him for this first-up run so he’s as fit as possible and he took a step forward to finish second in his most recent one at Canterbury. 1900 metres is a suitable starting point for him as he’d be vulnerable to speedier types over anything shorter, and he’s drawn a lovely barrier in 6 so Regan will let him land where he’s comfortable in the run. We will learn a lot after this run, but he’s shown enough ability previously to suggest he can be competitive in this grade and he’s ready to do himself justice, so we hope to see him hitting the line strongly to get his campaign off to an exciting start.JUST FINE, Race 7, 1900m, 4.00pm, A Hyeronimus, 59kgJust Fine is delighting us ahead of his return. He missed the spring which was disappointing, but it means we have a fresh horse on our hands for the autumn and he’s had three trials to ready him for this first-up run so he’s as fit as possible. 1900 metres is a suitable starting point for him as he’d be vulnerable to speedier types over anything shorter, and Adam will be positive from barrier 11 to try and work across into a more favourable inside position and let him land where he’s comfortable in the run but he tends to roll along either on or close to the speed. He’s the joint top rated horse in the field so he shares top weight which won’t make life easy, but Adam is a natural heavyweight rider which means he’ll carry minimal deadweight in the form of lead which is always our preference where possible. This is very much the beginning for him and we don’t expect him to be peaking until he gets over further later in his preparation, but he’s gone close to winning at Rosehill previously and he’s ready to do himself justice so we hope to see him hitting the line strongly to get his campaign off to an exciting start.SHANGRI LA BOY, Race 8, 1400m, 4.35pm, T Clark, 56.5kgShangri La Boy is delighting us ahead of his first-up run. He’s had three trials so he’s as fit as we can get him, and it was great to see him get his head back in front and win his most recent one at Canterbury. 1400 metres is a lovely starting point for him, and Tim will work forward from barrier 7 to try and land in a prominent spot where he can make his own luck either on or close to the speed. He’s conceding race fitness to his key rivals so it’s not going to be easy, and we don’t expect him to fully hit his straps until he gets over a bit further later in his preparation. However, he’s no slouch and his two career wins have come at Rosehill so he thrives at this track and we hope to see him give this a good shake.HEAT MISSILE, Race 9, 1300m, 5.15pm, T Clark, 55kgHeat Missile gave us such a thrill when regaining the winning thread so impressively at Warwick Farm last time. She relished the drop in grade and step up to 1400 metres and she won with some authority, so it’s given her a much-needed confidence boost. She’s now back up in grade sharply to a Group 2, so we’re under no illusions that she faces a tough ask. However, she’s deeper into her preparation now so she’s hard fit and whilst she’s dropping back in trip slightly to 1300 metres, we think she’s got the speed to cope with it. Tim will let her land where she’s comfortable from barrier 9 and hopefully she can enjoy a smooth run in transit and be well positioned to strike on straightening up. This is the stiffest test of her career to date but she’s a likeable mare who tries hard, and if she can snag some valuable Blake Type, we’d be thrilled.
