Caulfield Stakes winner Descarado

A real standout of the performance of Gai Waterhouse this spring has been her ability to place her horses in the perfect races.

While the fact they are in good form and racing well is a vital aspect, the meticulously worked out spring program is giving them the chance to win events.

The next few weeks though will be the real test with three of her stars to take on three very different events.

For Descarado it will be the Cox Plate, for Tullamore the Caulfield Cup and for More Joyous a step back to group 2 level for the Tristarc Stakes.

More Joyous battled on fir third first up behind Sepoy in an electric Manikato Stakes and Waterhouse says she’s taken plenty from that run.

“A lot of trainers at Flemington have remarked to me how lovely she looks,” Waterhouse said.

“She has really trained on, muscled up and has done very well.”

For Descarado it’s arguably an unlikely Cox Plate start given he appeared to be out of form before a comprehensive Caulfield Stakes victory on Saturday.

“When he hits form and fitness, he’s such a good stayer,” Waterhouse said.

“He got into a beautiful rhythm (in the Caulfield Stakes) and when he got them all off the bit coming to the turn, I knew he was going to win. He’s going to be at his peak for the Cox Plate.”

In the Caulfield Cup it will be Tullamore, a horse that’s now a real winning chance after the field appears to have fallen away dramatically.

That being said he’ll still have to deal with the dominant favourite December Draw but Waterhouse isn’t running scared.

“Tullamore had no luck in The Metropolitan, he should have finished a lot closer, and since he’s been in Melbourne, he’s been a very happy horse,” Waterhouse said.

“When horses are in the right frame of mind, they can do anything, they can climb mountains.”

The conqueror of More Joyous will also be in action on the Caulfield Cup program this Saturday, Sepoy to run in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint.

“Sepoy has to come back to 1100m but this is a nice race to keep him ticking over towards the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Flemington, October 29),” Peter Snowden said.