Gai Waterhouse has warned punters not to underestimate the traditional formlines of the Gloaming and Dulcify stakes when assessing the Spring Champion Stakes chances of Raf Attack and Ganbare.
The Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair not only won the two lead-ups but did so in the Tulloch Lodge style of going to the front and daring rivals to run them down, which they could not.
Regan Bayliss drives Raf Attack to the line for an all-the-way win in the Gloaming Stakes. Credit: Getty
“We get them fit and let them rip along in front. This has been the target,” Waterhouse said.
“They are good horses that have been set for this group 1 and get there with wins under their belts.
“It is surprising to me that they are not closer to the favourite [Tom Kitten] because he is going to be chasing them and we know our colts will be strong.
“Raf Attack has natural speed and can go forward again, and [jockey] Regan [Bayliss] will get it right again. But don’t forget Ganbare because he will run the trip and have an easier run from a good draw.”
Raf Attack had rivals chasing from a long way in the Gloaming Stakes and still had a kick left when he needed it over the 1800m. He had enough in hand to hold off Tom Kitten and Cap Ferrat.
The plan will be similar.
“He is a free-rolling horse but there is a little bit of art to him,” Bayliss said. “You don’t just want to go flat out or the other way and go too slow. You have to just let him roll and he will find for you. If he can get into that nice rhythm, like in the Gloaming the other day, he will hard to run down.”
Bayliss has been part of the Tulloch Lodge set-up for a couple of years and is getting more and more opportunities, and Waterhouse has been delighted with his development.
“Regan has taken a quantum leap. He has taken everything we have thrown at him and just gets better,” Waterhouse said. “His ride in the Gloaming was perfect, and there was another one on a two-year-old last Saturday [Shangri La Express] where he bounced him out and got him to come back and then kick away. He is getting better at that sort of ride.”
Raf Attack is the $6 second pick in the Spring Champion Stakes behind Godolphin colt Tom Kitten at $2.30.
Trainer James Cummings expects Tom Kitten to get back again, but not as far at the 2000m.
“I think from barrier one, he can be a pair or two closer,” he said. “That will mean he can use his acceleration to get past them rather than to get to them.”
Waterhouse will be in Melbourne for the Cox Plate, where she has similar feelings tothe Spring Champion Stakes with Alligator Blood, which has won the Underwood Stakes and Might And Power Stakes at his past two starts.
“You would usually be a $3 favourite if you won those two races, but this Romantic Warrior is the one that they have favourite,” Waterhouse said. “He has been going out and dominating his races, Alligator Blood, and has the versatility that you need to be great weight-for-age horse.
“I think they are underrating him given his record and the outstanding form is in.”
Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior is the $4.20 Sportsbet favourite but is likely to start a lot shorter on the tote given the Hong Kong-hosted World Pool is in action tomorrow. Alligator Blood is at $5.50.
“You want to be backing the Australian horse that is winning,” Waterhouse said.
Waterhouse and Bott continue to lead the Sydney trainers premiership from Chris Waller and will saddle Alcohol Free in The Invitation and The Little Pumper in the Callander-Presnell, but it is Keenan in the the Brian Crowley Stakes, with Bayliss in the saddle, that the stable believe could be heading for bigger things.
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