Gai Waterhouse spent the early part of her birthday watching The Offer gallop at Moonee Valley.
And she took enough out of the trackwork session to know the Melbourne Cup favourite is capable of delivering a belated gift in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes of Saturday.
The Offer – Photo by Steve Hart
The Offer was ridden by Damien Oliver in the workout and he worked with stablemate Hippopus over 1400m to familiarise himself with the circuit.
The pair clocked 26.94secs for the last 400m with The Offer just putting his head in front at the post with Waterhouse happy with the work.
“It was just a stretch-and-extend exercise,” Waterhouse said.
“Damien said it was an interesting piece of work because he’s very laidback but he said he knows exactly where the winning post is.”
Waterhouse believes The Offer, who scored his most important victory in winning last season’s Sydney Cup, can win first-up.
“His main distance is 2400 metres-plus, but he’ll be very competitive,” Waterhouse said.
Oliver said The Offer, who he won the Ballarat Cup on last spring, got around Moonee Valley nicely and can run a forward race.
“If the conditions are soft that will add to his chances,” Oliver said.
The Offer was one of four Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes entries to work at Moonee Valley with Star Rolling turning in a pleasing gallop in company with stablemate Avereau, clocked to run his last 400m in 24.84secs.
His trainer Peter Morgan said the PB Lawrence Stakes winner had come on well from his first-up victory and expects him to be hard to beat.
Foreteller worked solo with trainer Chris Waller’s Melbourne representative Justine Hales happy with the gallop.
Crackerjack King worked well enough with stablemate Spillway for jockey Michael Walker to tip an improved showing from the import.
