Gai Waterhouse will have both Tres Blue and Vaquera in the 2014 JRA Plate at Royal Randwick on Saturday and the leading Sydney trainer is happy with the condition of both horses heading into the Group 3 event.
Vaquera will be joined in the 2014 JRA Cup field by stablemate Tres Blue and is chasing her first race win since she took out the Tibbie Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
Tres Blue will be having just the second start of his 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, after he finished tenth in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and Waterhouse told TVN that she is expecting an improved performance from the Anabaa Blue entire when he steps up to 2000 metres in the JRA Plate this weekend.
“I am very happy with him,” Waterhouse said.
“I just don’t think he knew quiet the Australian way to race the other day.
“He jumped on terms with them, but all of a sudden in the George Ryder they had taken off and he was back last and he never quiet caught on after that.
“I put him over the jumps, as I do with a lot of my horses, and he has had a lot of work.
“He is very fit and I think that he will be much more competitive.
“Over 2000 metres you should see a big difference.”
Vaquera started her autumn preparation with a fair performance in the February Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 1 and finished third behind Junoob in the Might And Power Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 15, but failed to fire in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) on March 15.
The High Chaparral mare worked home fairly in a race that did not suit backmarkers in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and Waterhouse said that she is happy with the form of the four-year-old heading into the Japan Racing Association Plate.
“She is going really well,” Waterhouse said.
“Tim Clark said this morning that she is in a really good mood and she is one of those fillies that if she gets out of bed in the wrong frame of mind, pity help you.
“She is in great form and she will run very well. “
There is very little separating the leading chances in the 2014 JRA Plate betting market; with Tres Blue currently available at odds of $7, while Vaquera is priced at a quote of $15 to score her first race this preparation.
