Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse was unusually reserved when discussing her Caulfield Cup chances Hoo Ya Mal and Goldman
Gai Waterhouse believes a case can be made for almost every runner in Saturday’s $5 million Caulfield Cup, in which she’ll saddle up Hoo Ya Mal and Goldman.
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Gai Waterhouse swapped her usual trademark confidence for a measured assessment of her chances of winning the $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) with either Hoo Ya Mal and Goldman on Saturday.
Racing’s first lady is almost always optimistic when it comes to her stable’s runners but even she concedes this is a very open Caulfield Cup, as reflected by the betting where topweight Gold Trip is favourite at $6.
“You can do down the order and make a case for just about every horse in the race,’’ Waterhouse said.
“Caulfield Cups are always hard to win but what I can tell you is both of our stayers are fighting fit and will give you a run for your money.’’
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Hoo Ya Mal, runner-up in the English Derby last year, is rated a $15 chance in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting and Goldman, the one-time Melbourne Cup favourite, is out to $71.
Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, said Hoo Ya Mal showed signs of returning to his best English form when he ran a close second to Montefilia in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill last start.
“Hoo Ya Mal is a promising stayer and he is really enjoying his racing in Australian now,’’ Waterhouse said.
“It took him a little while to find his feet but he is coming of age now. He was very good last start and he meets that mare (Montefilia) better at the weights.
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“Tim (Clark) is a go-forward jockey and he should be able to give Hoo Ya Mal every chance.’’
Goldman looked like being anything when he first joined the Waterhouse-Bott stable earlier this year, winning three races in succession including the Roy Higgins Quality where he comfortably defeated Soulcombe.
But in the Caulfield Cup, Soulcombe is challenging for favouritism at $6.50 while Goldman is one of the rank outsiders and something of a forgotten runner.
“Goldman has the ability and I don’t mind the outside barrier because he can cruise across under his own steam,’’ Waterhouse said.
“It will be interesting if he can get back to his best form, I don’t think he is far away.’’
Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, is chasing a second Caulfield Cup after her win with Descarado in 2010.
IN OTHER CUP NEWS:
• Gold Trip has to shoulder 58.5kg but no horse has won a Caulfield Cup carrying more than 58kg since Tobin Bronze with 61.5kg in 1967.
• Valiant King comes out of barrier 1 which has not produced a Caulfield Cup winner since Velocity in 1941.
• Champion jockey James McDonald can complete the Grand Slam if he wins on Francesco Guardi. He has already won the Melbourne Cup (Verry Elleegant, 2021), Cox Plate (Anamoe, 2022) and Golden Slipper (Mossfun, 2014), plus The Everest (Nature Strip, 2021).
• With the scratching of Nonconformist, there are only two Australian-bred stayers, Montefilia and Fame, plus a sole New Zealander, Goldman, taking on 14 stayers bred in the northern hemisphere.
• Retiring Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver does not have a ride in the Caulfield Cup which means he will not get the chance to equal Scobie Breasley’s long-time race riding record of five wins.
Waterhouse might have been guarded when discussing her Caulfield Cup runners but she simply won’t hear of top filly and last start Flight Stakes heroine Tropical Squall ($1.90 favourite) being beaten in the Group 2 $200,000 Ethereal Stakes (2000m).
“Tropical Squall will run 2000m with her eyes shut, just like Alligator Blood (Might And Power Stakes) did last week,’’ she said. “This is an outstanding filly and she will win the Oaks, too.’’
The Hall of Fame trainer also provided an update on Alligator Blood ahead of next Saturday’s $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, the only leg of Australian racing’s Grand Slam Waterhouse is yet to win.
“Alligator Blood is the one they have to beat in the Cox Plate, he is in outstanding order,’’ she said. “We are so lucky to have him.’’
Originally published as Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse was unusually reserved when discussing her Caulfield Cup chances Hoo Ya Mal and Goldman
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