Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse is already planning to win Australia’s most famous race – the Melbourne Cup.
Waterhouse took Group One winner Glencadam Gold and UK import Michelangelo for a day out at Canterbury yesterday with the pair taking part in an exhibition gallop between races, with both gallopers being aimed at the Melbourne Cup
“They will both head in the same direction, towards the Melbourne Cup,” Waterhouse said.
“In the meantime I will sort out their programs.”
Waterhouse said she had yet to decide if either galloper would race in Sydney this spring and did not rule out the pair campaigning exclusively in Melbourne.
Glencadam Gold finished a terrific sixth in last year’s Melbourne Cup but somehow lost form in the autumn when he was unplaced in two starts.
Both Waterhouse and jockey Tommy Berry were buoyed by Glencadam Gold’s workout on Wednesday.
“He’s relaxing well and it’s good to see because last preparation he was very keen in his work and his gallops and he wasn’t finding the line that good,” Berry said.
“He was very clean in the wind today.
“I couldn’t have been happier with him.”
Glencadam Gold trailed Michelangelo in the workout but when Berry asked him to quicken from the 600m, he quickly got the upper hand on Michelangelo in the gallop. Nash Rawiller had to pull the whip on the Group One-placed import and was still beaten easily.
Waterhouse was unperturbed by Michelangelo’s gallop and said he was behind in condition in his first Australian preparation.
“He’s struggling fitness-wise but he’s not struggling as a horse. He is just a bit behind,” she said.
“It was a nice exercise for them.
“Glencadam Gold is fitter, he is seasoned. It makes a big difference.”
By Owens Wong
