GAI Waterhouse baulked when it was suggested that the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday would be just a run to bring on Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer, reportds Racing Network.
“What’s this run, he’s going to win the race. That’s what he’s out to do,” Waterhouse said. “He’s going to be terribly competitive. His main trip is 2400 metres plus, but he’ll very competitive. You only had to see him this morning.
“He really did work nicely. It was just a stretch and extend exercise.”
The Offer, resuming from his Sydney Cup win, was ridden by Damien Oliver in his 1400 metre gallop withHippopus, ridden by Steven Arnold.
The Sydney Cup winner just shaded Hippopus at the end of the work, the pair running home their last 400 metres in 26.96 on a track rated a Dead 5 by Moonee Valley track manager Marty Synon.
“Damien said it was an interesting piece of work as he’s very laid back, he knows exactly where the winning post is. He put his ears back and he attacks the line,” Waterhouse said
“He (Oliver) said at the top of the straight Hippopus had the edge on me, but he knew where the winning post was and he wanted to get past the other horse.
“He’s a real racehorse down to his tippy-toes and Damien was very impressed with him.”
Waterhouse said the one thing that The Offer shares in common with Fiorente is their “will to win”.
Hippopus runs in a 2500 metres race at Moonee Valley on Saturday, a race Waterhouse expects him to be “most competitive”.
Waterhouse said the addition of blinkers will help the horse.
“He just seemed to drift in the last 100 metres of his gallop and the other horse seemed very focused,” Waterhouse said.
“And, we can’t have him drifting on Saturday.”