Gai Waterhouse is preparing to roll out her spring big guns in the coming weeks with outstanding mare More Joyous leading the charge.The five-time Group One winner made her first public appearance of the new season in a barrier trial at Randwick on Friday and finished fifth to stablemate Flying Success.Waterhouse confirmed More Joyous would not race in her home city this spring and would instead spearhead a strong team of carnival contenders in Melbourne."She will go straight to Melbourne, the M
Gai Waterhouse is preparing to roll out her spring big guns in the coming weeks with outstanding mare More Joyous leading the charge.
The five-time Group One winner made her first public appearance of the new season in a barrier trial at Randwick on Friday and finished fifth to stablemate Flying Success.
Waterhouse confirmed More Joyous would not race in her home city this spring and would instead spearhead a strong team of carnival contenders in Melbourne.
"She will go straight to Melbourne, the Manikato Stakes is the race we're talking about (first-up)," Waterhouse said.
"I'm over the moon with her. She told us she wanted to trial, she was jumping out of her skin and I couldn't be happier with her."
The Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) is at Moonee Valley on September 30 and has also been mentioned as a potential target for Golden Slipper winner Sepoy who resumed with a brilliant win in the Vain Stakes earlier this month.
More Joyous, raced by colourful businessman John Singleton, won four of her five starts last spring including the Group One double of the George Main Stakes and Toorak Handicap, both over 1600 metres.
Extended beyond that distance for the first time she was a brave fifth to superstar So You Think in the Cox Plate (2040m) but Waterhouse said there were no plans to give her another shot at the weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley this year with the Myer Classic for mares her main goal.
"She's been paid up for (the Cox Plate) but it's not on the agenda," Waterhouse said.
Caulfield Cup winner Descarado is also ticking all the boxes according to his trainer.
He won a 1250m trial on Friday and Waterhouse is looking at the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 10 as his starting point.
"I'm thinking seriously about kicking him off over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley on the 10th," Waterhouse said.
"I think he might have even come back a touch better than last year,he's more mature."
The Singleton-owned 2010 AJC Australian Oaks winner Once Were Wild who had success in the Group Two Chairman's Handicap (2600m) during the Sydney autumn, is also headed straight for Melbourne.
The mare had a mixed carnival in Melbourne 12 months ago with her best result a third to Maluckyday in the Lexus before she finished 11th in the Melbourne Cup.
Once Were Wild is set to resume at Flemington on Saturday week ahead of another Cups campaign.
Waterhouse also has high hopes for Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Shared Reflections who has taken longer to come to hand than planned.
Waterhouse has pencilled in a return for her in one of the support races on Chelmsford Stakes day at Randwick and she has been entered for the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12.