Gai Waterhouse | Home

Emma Reeves usually identifies the stable's best-placed runner each weekend. This week, she takes us behind the scenes to explain the planning that goes into preparing our horses for race day.Bit long but I had to go rogue with the options on offer this week…With some of our stable stars stepping out at the trials for the first time this preparation, I thought I'd turn this piece on its head and give you some insight into the planning that goes into getting them there. They were originally due to trial today but, after the rain, they've been pushed back until Monday. It's another reminder that no matter how carefully we plan, horses and Mother Nature always have the final say.Every horse in the stable has a long-term plan. As soon as one heads to the paddock, we're already discussing where we'd like to see it in three to six months' time, whether that's winning a maiden, targeting a Stakes race or building towards a major carnival. We then work backwards, mapping out spelling, pre-training, trial dates and race targets. That plan is constantly reviewed as the horse progresses and refined based on everything from weather conditions to how they're progressing physically and mentally. It's a far more dynamic process than many people realise. Our long-term objectives rarely change, but the route we take to achieve them is continually refined to give each horse the best opportunity to succeed.The horses stepping out on Monday are the product of months of planning and, while not every plan unfolds perfectly, there's nothing more satisfying than watching a carefully planned preparation come together on race day.Monday's intriguing line-up includes:• Fully Lit – The revelation of last preparation. After a setback, we've deliberately spaced his trials to have him ready for the Missile Stakes first up• Campaldino – A genuine Spring Carnival staying star whose path towards the Chelmsford Stakes first up and, hopefully, the Caulfield Cup remains on track• Albany Road – Originally earmarked as a winter horse, but as he's progressed through the grades, he's shown he’s even more effective on firmer tracks. This mid preparation trial allows us to have him ready to strike when conditions improve.• The Euphrates – A horse we've viewed as a star staying prospect since purchasing him more than a year ago. Only bad luck has interrupted this vision, so keep an eye out for this Melbourne Cup hopeful.• Agrarian Girl – A Stakes-winning filly who resumes in the Princess Series before we decide whether to head south for the sprints or stay in Sydney and stretch her out in trip.• Shiki – Another exciting filly, but an out-and-out speedster whose profile suggests Melbourne could be the ideal fit.

WEDNESDAY 22nd JULY - CANTERBURYRail Position: +8M Entire THE LITTLE GENERAL, Race 1, 1100m, 12.50pm, Z Wadick (2kg ), 60.5kgThe Little General gave us such a thrill when winning so determinedly first-up at Hawkesbury. He absorbed plenty of pressure on that occasion but still fought on very bravely, and he clung on for a well-deserved victory. He has taken plenty of improvement from that outing so he strips fitter here, and we’re confident there’s plenty of improvement to come as a result. He sticks to 1100 metres for now because these 3 Year Old Benchmark 64 Handicaps in town are very few and far between, so it’s a terrific opportunity to take on his own age group for fantastic prizemoney and we’re keen to seize the opportunity. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1 so Zac will once again be positive from there to try and repeat the front running tactics that were so successful last time, and his 2kg claim brings him down in the weights which is another big help. He’s taking on some progressive rivals so it won’t be easy, but he’s in great form and is full of confidence so we expect him to be hard to reel in once again.ARGANSORT, Race 2, 1200m, 1.25pm, R King, 59kgArgansort is delighting Adrian and myself ahead of his first start. He has had three trials at Randwick to prepare him for this race, so he’s as fit as we can get him and it was very encouraging to see him win his most recent one. These three hit outs have given him a solid educational grounding for 1200 metres first-up, and we’ve put blinkers on to ensure he’s as focused as possible as well as a tongue tie to aid his breathing. Canterbury is a tight turning track where we have a lot of success which adds confidence, and Rachel will be positive from barrier 3 to try and have him in a handy position where he can make his own luck on or close to the lead. He's shown us a certain level of ability thus far, and this wouldn’t be the strongest city-grade maiden so we expect him run a competitive race to get his career off to an exciting start.FARFETCHED, Race 3, 1200m, 2.00pm, R King, 60kgFarfetched has run two very honest races so far this preparation. She raced like a horse looking for further last time, which wasn't entirely unexpected but the option simply wasn't there to step her up in trip last time, and we had hoped we might get away with it. She gets the additional distance here with the step up to 1200 metres and it should bring about improvement. She’s got the speed to roll forward and get across from barrier 9 and Rachel gets a great tune out of our horses, so we’re delighted to have her aboard. This is a lovely race for her against her own sex and all bar one of her rivals are two years olds. Whilst it’s late in the season, it is difficult for two year olds to beat older horses so your filly, who’s more seasoned than them, is certainly at an advantage here. We would’ve loved it to be over a slightly longer trip but this race ticks all the right boxes otherwise, and we hope she can register a long overdue and thoroughly deserved first victory.GRAPHIC SIGHT, Race 7, 1580m, 4.20pm, R King, 57kgGraphic Sight gave us such a thrill when winning so determinedly at Hawkesbury last time. He relished the additional distance there, and whilst this is a jump in grade, the further step up to 1580 metres has the potential to bring about more improvement so we are confident he’s up to the challenge. He’s been back to the trials since his win to keep his fitness up to the mark between runs and Rachel knows how to ride our horses effectively, so we’re delighted to have her aboard. He should be able to slot in from barrier 8 and enjoy an even run in transit, and if he gets some luck in running we see no reason why he won’t be right there at the finish.WEDNESDAY 22nd JULY - SANDOWNRail Position: +9M Entire LADY MOSCATO, Race 2, 1000m, 1.00pm, J Stanley, 59kgLady Moscato is thriving ahead of her first-up run. She’s had three trials in Sydney so she’s as fit as we can get her, so whilst she’s conceding race fitness to her main rivals we aren’t concerned that she’ll lack conditioning. She’s taken everything in her stride since heading south to Flemington where she’s been before, and that previous experience is standing her in good stead as she’s extremely level-headed and the consummate professional which will take her a long way. 1000 metres is a suitable starting point for her and she’s drawn well in barrier 4, so given it’s a 400-metre run to the one and only turn she should have plenty of time to roll forward and establish herself in a handy position where she can travel comfortably in the run. She might still be a maiden but she has some terrific form to her name, including when finishing just over 4.5 lengths behind the eventual Golden Slipper winner in the Group 1 Blue Diamond in February. She’s matured and strengthened up nicely since then, and we’re confident she’ll be fighting out the finish here to get her preparation off to an exciting start.