The former Frenchman Pornichet heads to the Doncaster now in winning form, writes Gai Waterhouse at www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au.
 
She says: The entire made the quantum leap on Saturday and he won in the most impressive way possible. With every run this time in, the future stallion has improved and on Saturday’s wins he looks one of the horses to beat in the 1600m Classic next Saturday.

 

Ever since he lobbed Down Under, this boy has simply got better and better. He almost won on debut on Derby day last year; he then won second up in a Stakes race at Sandown before heading for a very good, long spell. Since he came back in, he looked like more like Father Christmas than a race horse. He certainly had a belly on him! It has taken two trials and three runs, and now the versatile entire is at his peak and he is thriving.

 

 

In the Neville Sellwood on Saturday, Pornichet looked the winner from a long way out. He was given the absolute perfect ride by young gun Blake Shinn and the way he extended quickly at the top of the straight demonstrates that the drop back to the 1600m next Saturday will be no problem at all. It has taken this entire a little while to adapt to the Gai Waterhouse way of doing things. He has always shown talent, and now, like dozens and maybe hundreds before him, once he has clicked into the Lady Trainer’s way of doing things, the penny has really dropped.

 

Happy owners
Happy owners

 

The Doncaster is one of the top ten hardest races in Australia to win, and Pornichet certainly won’t have it all his own way. But on the strength of his win on Saturday, his rivals will know he is there.

 

 

Congratulations to all the owners of this wonderful entire. His track work over the last two weeks has been faultless and his win on Saturday was just reward for his natural progression. Bring on the Doncaster!