Gai Waterhouse looks to have a big hand in several of the races to be run and won this Wednesday on the Kenso surface at Randwick.
Race 1 sees the return of the nice colt Cyclone. This boy was not beaten far by the likes of Unencumbered at the Magic Millions and in fact, Cyclone ran Unencumbered to a length on debut and had genuine excuses. The grey colt has won more prize money than the rest of the field combined and from a wide barrier he looks as if he might get over fairly easily and be very tough to run down. The Moody trained horse The Iliad has a brilliant name and has Hugh Bowman aboard. Those of you familiar with Homer, the Greek Poet will know that the Iliad contains the first ever racecall in recorded history where Homer describes a few upper class Greeks and their adventures in racing each other on chariots. This is too good of a name to leave out. Also the top weight Charlie Royale, has Nash Rawiller aboard and is trained by Gerald Ryan. Ryan has been having a bit of luck with his youngsters of late so don’t be surprised if this boy improves dramatically off his recent trials.
Verdict: Cyclone looks an excellent each way chance. His class is exposed and he is yet to run a bad race or participate in a bad trial.
Race 2 contains 12 first starters all with fair to ok trial form behind them. Gai has two runners in this race and both are not without a chance. No.9. Shamardal Gold and No.12. Talisa are both fair fillies but in such a big race with no exposed form at all, the recommendation would be perhaps a small each way bet on both based on Waterhouse trust, otherwise this is a sit and watch affair. We will definitely learn something from watching a full field of first starters.
Race 3 has the nice horse Golden Aro engaged. This gelding had not really done much in his career until a recent 2nd then and he has always had a certain boom about him due to being out of the Group One winning Danzero mare Danni Martine. He has his share of weight in this race and the No.8 Snowden trained horse will be hard to beat, but Golden Aro is all set to run well. He is a rough each way chance at what should be fairly nice odds.
Race 5 sees one of the most improved geldings in the Waterhouse yard So Nostalgic steeping up to his toughest test to date. This boy can fly home off a good tempo and can also lead and kick away nicely. He can produce brilliant sectionals and on his last win at Wyong and with at Kembla where he ran really well. He looks to have improved since the super kid Chad Schofield aboard, So Nostalgic looks a very good winning chance. All the leading trainers have a nice horse in this field, but So Nostalgic looks to perhaps have the most scope for further improvement. He is flying in his races and he is breaking the clock at trackwork and he is a definite winning chance in this race.
Verdict: So Nostalgic to win and be especially careful of No.4. and No.7. as they are both come from tremendously inform stables.
Race 6 sees the son of the gun mare Aqua D’amore. Hydro finally reach a distance that he was born to excel at. This gelding either runs really well in his races or drops out; however since his gelding he looks to have comeback bigger and better than ever and another win is not far away. It has been exactly one year and one week since his one and only win, but he is on the quick backup, he is fit and he will be hard to beat despite his big weight.
Verdict: Hydro is a solid each way chance and if he continues to progress as the stable is hoping, he might even by a rough Australian Derby chance. But he will have to get better and do it quickly.
By Zeb Armstrong
