Gai Waterhouse declared yesterday that she was a ‘sleeping giant’ and was ready to launch a major charge on the Sydney premiership this year.

She’s currently slipped to third on the table behind Peter Snowden and the very impressive Chris Waller.

It will be no easy task to make up the ground but tomorrow at Randwick she’ll unleash a team that looks quite imposing on paper.

These will be some of the key horses Waterhouse is relying on throughout the next few weeks leading into the spring carnival later in the year.

Embarrassed:

He’s a three year old gelding with just the three career starts but he can make a big impact in race two at Rosehill this weekend.

He won at Gosford on debut and backed it up with a win at Hawkesbury before running fourth in his first metro start on May 21.

“He’s a really lovely gelding, he’s got a stack of ability,” Waterhouse said.

She considers him to be her best hope of the day and it’s worth noting his first win was on a Heavy 9, the same surface likely to be in play tomorrow.

Devils Arcade:

This is a very important mare in the Waterhouse stable and one she has persisted with for a while now.

She’s been plagued by problems throughout her career but at four-years-old it’s a case of now or never.

All up she’s had ten starts for five wins so the ability is there, she runs in race four at Rosehill tomorrow.

“I’ve been working overtime on this mare to get her back in the winner’s circle,” Waterhouse said.

“The mares really come of age, she’s taken a long time to come right.”

Tullamore:

This four year old gelding could really be a start over the spring and he has form in some good races.

His career record is fair with four wins and seven placings from 17 starts but he’s yet to jump to that next level.

He runs in the very competitive Winter Stakes at Rosehill tomorrow and Waterhouse is buoyed by his last start fourth in the Mckell Stakes

“I thought it was a fantastic run the other day,” she said.

“He’s put on condition with work, he’s a seriously big horse, this horse is going places.”

Kontiki Park:

Had a less than ideal run last start but flew him very quickly at the end to run home second.

He’s a five year old gelding with 17 starts for four wins and seven placings.

It’s a crucial season for him and race seven tomorrow may well be a defining moment in his career.

“He’s the most honest horse I have in the stable,” Waterhouse said.

“He should win this race, I was quietly confident last week but there’s no reason he can’t win.”

Daintree Road:

This four year old gelding will run in the last race of the day at Rosehill and is another with big expectations in 2011.

His career stats are five from 13 starts but importantly he won three of his last four at the end of 2010.

Barrier 18 is a big issue tomorrow but it’s no excuse if he genuinely has the ability.

“He’ll run a  really good race, I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s really going nicely,” Waterhouse said.”

It’s been a very quiet period by Gai’s standards but history says that she’s due to start finding plenty of winners as the spring approaches.

If she’s going to do it these are her main chances and certainly worth keeping an eye on at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.