Bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse is firmly in his wife’s corner as the trainer shoots for a record-equalling seventh Group One Doncaster on Saturday.
Gai Waterhouse has the dominant favourite in More Joyous heading into the famous Randwick mile (1600m) and will also be represented by last-start Ajax Stakes winner Pureness in the time-honoured race.
“Obviously I hope More Joyous wins and for Gai to equal her father’s record means a tremendous amount to her,” Robbie Waterhouse said while fielding at the Canterbury races on Wednesday.
“I haven’t looked at the race thoroughly yet but it (More Joyous) seems to be very well weighted.”
The legendary TJ Smith holds the record number of Doncaster wins as a trainer with seven.
Waterhouse has already been successful on six occasions with her most recent success being Grand Armee in 2003.
More Joyous, unbeaten in Sydney in almost two years, will carry topweight of 57kg after weights were raised 0.5kg at acceptance time.
The last horse to carry topweight and win the Doncaster was the great Sunline when she lumped 58kg to victory in 2002.
Robbie Waterhouse said at the weights for this year’s race, it gives More Joyous a great chance to claim her sixth Group One success on Saturday.
“She dominates the race,” he said.
“Only because it’s the modern-day weighting of big races to encourage the weight-for-age horses to start in a handicap, they’re kindly treated compared to the old days.”
More Joyous is currently around the $2 quote in early markets and Waterhouse expects that to be about the price he’ll open the glamour mare at on Saturday.
“My guess is I’d have her about even money,” he said.
While More Joyous is the clear favourite to add the Doncaster to Group One wins in the George Main Stakes, Toorak Handicap, Futurity Stakes and Queen Of The Turf Stakes this season, stablemate Pureness heads into the event on the back of a last-start Ajax Stakes win and has the services of Corey Brown.
The bookmaker has also been taken by the lightly-raced gelding.
“I thought Pureness has put in great Doncaster trials and I thought as Gai’s second string he also has a great chance,” he said.
Pureness has been set for the race by the trainer and believes the son of Tale Of The Cat is capable of keeping his favoured stablemate honest on Saturday.
“I’ve set him for this race all along and I told (owner) Mr Altomonte he was most capable of winning the Doncaster and he won’t make me a liar, he’ll be fighting the finish out,” Waterhouse said.
AAP TURF
