Gai's Tip Sheet
SATURDAY 12th SEPTEMBER - ROSEHILLRail Position: +5M EntireI'M YA HUCKLEBERRY - Race 6, 2.50pm, 1400m, S Grima, 53.5kgI’m Ya Huckleberry has come through is impressive win at Wyong in great shape. He won as we expected him to, and whilst on paper this is a big rise in grade he finished second in a Group 3 on debut and he's got plenty of ability so he belongs in this company. He’s going to relish stretching out to 1400 metres second-up so this has the potential to unlock even more improvement, and the return to a more expansive track is another big tick as he has a massive stride so it’ll suit him enormously. His gallop on Tuesday morning was solid and his recovery was the best we’ve seen from his recent pieces of work which is extremely positive and adds further confidence leading into race day. Siena’s a talented rider so she’ll let him roll forward from barrier 8 to try and race on or close to the speed so that he can roll along at a comfortable tempo. He might just need a run at this distance and in this grade to bring him to his peak, but he's only got 53.5kg on his back and we think he’ll give a strong kick and be right there at the finish.SAVAGRAM - Race 6, 2.50pm, 1400m, T Clark, 53kgSavagram is in great shape ahead of this run. He lost no admirers in defeat when finishing 1.5 lengths from the winner in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes last time, in what was a big jump in grade against some more seasoned opposition. He’s taken further benefit from that so he’s entitled to keep improving in only his third start, and his gallop on Tuesday morning was solid with excellent recovery which is extremely positive and adds confidence leading into race day. Tim learned a lot about him last time so he’ll once again try to land in a prominent spot from barrier 7 where he can enjoy an even run in transit, and we expect him to be capable of fighting out the finish.PLAGIARISM - Race 8, 4.00pm, 1200m, R Bayliss, 57kgPlagiarism gave us such a thrill when winning the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes last time. He’s come out of that win in wonderful order and he’s been full of confidence since, so we can’t fault him. His gallop on Tuesday morning was extremely sharp and he handled it comfortably which is very positive. He has been recording consistently excellent data in his recent gallops, so we’re confident that he’s ready to put up another career best effort this weekend. He’s dropping back in distance by 100 metres which isn’t our usual preference and he could be slightly vulnerable as a result, but if any horse can adapt to it it’s him. He’s got good early speed, so Regan should be able to utilise this from his lovely barrier in 3 to roll forward and make it a genuinely run race because we know he’s a fit horse who will see out a solidly run 1200 metres. He’s taking on some talented and progressive rivals but he’s on an upwards trajectory himself, and we except him to be right there at the finish once again.REVENGEANCE - Race 8, 4.00pm, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 57kgRevengeance was a bit disappointing first-up. However, he was going a long time between runs so we’re prepared to be forgiving of his effort and he’ll be better judged after this second-up run. He’s come through that outing in good shape so we can’t fault him at home, and his gallop on Tuesday morning was solid. His recovery was excellent which is extremely positive and adds confidence that there’s improvement to come leading into race day. The step up to 1200 metres should suit and enable him to travel comfortably in the run, and he’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1 so Adam will be positive from there to try and make the most of it and land in a prominent position where he can enjoy all the favours in the run. It’s another competitive race so it’s not going to be easy but we know he’s got ability and we expect him to take a step forward and run a more competitive race.SOVEREIGN HILL- Race 10, 5.15pm, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 57.5kgSovereign Hill gave us such a thrill when winning over this trip at Randwick last time. He was toughness personified when the chips were down and he knuckled down so gamely to prevail which was extremely satisfying to see. He looked beaten last time but really rallied in the final furlong, and as such our biggest concern here is that he sticks to 1200 metres whilst taking on stronger opposition when he’s shaped as though he’d probably appreciate getting out over slightly further. However, we’re somewhat dictated to by the race program and this is still a suitable option for him, and it acts as a steppingstone to other races over further in due course. His gallop on Tuesday morning was very sharp, and his recovery was excellent which is extremely positive and adds confidence that he’s in the best possible shape leading into race day. Adam knows him well so he’ll let him find his feet from barrier 7 and get a tow into the race, and if he’s able to match the turn of foot of some of these we see no reason why he won’t be in the finish once again.SATURDAY 12th SEPTEMBER - FLEMINGTONRail Position: TrueHARRY LIME - Race 2, 12.40pm, 1400m, J Stanley, 57kgHarry Lime is in great shape ahead of this run. He’s done very well since heading south to our Flemington stable, and after being a little new in his first few days he’s since knuckled down and done everything that’s been asked of him. He was fantastic when winning at Kembla last time and whilst it was only a provincial Class 1 Handicap, beating older horses in any grade isn’t easy to do so there was plenty of merit to it. He’s now back against his peers and he’s taking on some well-credentialed rivals who are rated much higher than he is, however his current rating is not a reflection of his true talent as he’s still open to a lot of improvement. The first run racing in the opposite direction in Melbourne is always a bit of a question mark, but he’s such a relaxed and professional colt so he’s got all the hallmarks of a horse who will take it in his stride. Flemington’s a lovely expansive track so Jett should be able to keep him nice and balanced, and the long home straight will give him plenty of time to go through his gears. He sticks to 1400 metres for now before we stretch him out in trip, and whilst he has a bit to find with a few of these we think he’s up to the challenge and we expect him to give it a very good shake.SIR DELIUS - Race 8, 4.20pm, 1600m, C Williams, 59kgSir Delius is in fantastic shape ahead of his return. He’s done very well since heading south to our Flemington stable and being the consummate professional he is he has taken it all in his stride with the minimum of fuss. He’s had three trials so he’s as fit as we can get him ahead of his first-up run, and he’s shown a bit more speed in them than he did in the autumn so he looks to be cherry ripe to resume over the mile. Craig knows him inside out and he does his homework extremely thoroughly, so he’ll know exactly where he wants him in the run and position him accordingly from barrier 9. Craig has ridden Mr Brightside in his last twenty-six successive races, winning multiple Group 1s during this time, and he now gets off him to ride Sir Delius which shows in no uncertain terms just how highly he regards him. He’s a previous Group 1 winner at this track so we know he goes well here, and the long home straight plays to his strengths. He’s conceding race fitness to some key rivals and this is a particularly strong renewal of this race, so there’s never an easy Group 1. However, he’s supremely talented and he ticks an awful lot of boxes. His main targets lie later in the preparation so we expect him to be peaking then, but we still think he’s capable of fighting out the finish so hopefully he can get his preparation off to a winning start.SATURDAY 12th SEPTEMBER - KEMBLARail Position: +4m 1700m-500m, True remainderVAN HOVEN - Race 1, 12.45pm, 1600m, Z Wadick, 59kgVan Hoven got his career off to an encouraging start when finishing a close fourth at Goulburn. It was a strong race for the grade and two of the horses that finished ahead of him had race fitness on their side, so he was by no means disgraced. He has taken plenty of improvement from that outing so he strips fitter here, and we’ve put blinkers on to sharpen him up so we’re confident there’s plenty of improvement to come as a result. He’s going to be well suited by the step up to 1600 metres, and the slightly steadier tempo of this longer race should enable him to travel nice and comfortably in the run. Zac knows him well and he ticks plenty of boxes, so we expect him to be hard to beat.PULSATOR - Race 7, 4.24pm, 1200m, W Costin, 56.5kgPulsator is pleasing us ahead of his first start. His two trials at Randwick have been very encouraging and whilst he was no match for the impressive winner last time, he won his previous one so he’s shown ability. 1200 metres is a lovely starting point as he’d be vulnerable to speedier types over anything shorter, and Winona rides our horses a treat at this level so we’re thrilled to secure her services. She’ll be positive from barrier 10 to try and control the race to suit herself and make her own luck accordingly. His trial form is good, he’s starting off at a realistic level and horses can improve a lot under race day conditions so we will have a much clearer line on him after this outing, but we expect him run a big race to get his career off to an encouraging start.
