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The Gai Waterhouse stable is planning a strong assault on the four feature races at next week's Newcastle Cup carnival.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Waterhouse is planning to run up to three horses in Wednesday's $150,000 Patinack Farm Cameron Handicap (1500m) inclkuding last year's Newcastle Cup winner Stratofortress.
She will also be represented by leading chances in the $185,000 Tooheys New Newcastle Gold Cup and $175,000 MGA Insurance Spring Stakes on Thursday and the $100,000 Patinack Tibbie on Wednesday.
Waterhouse's Cameron entries are expected to be Stratofortress, Light Brigade and Reuben Percival.
Talented mare Essence Of Success is top of her list for the Newcastle Cup after her unlucky second in last Friday's Wyong Cup.
The unbeaten three-year-old Just The Tonic is set to take another step up the ladder in the Spring Stakes while tough mare Sweetest Melody will be going for three straight in the Tibbie Stakes after her classy win in last Friday's Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong.
"I am looking at horses like Stratofortress, Light Brigade and Reuben Percival for the Cameron," Waterhouse said.
“Essence Of Success was unlucky in the Wyong Cup. The Newcastle Cup is on the cards for her.
"Sweetest Melody was great at Wyong and the Tibbie looks another good race for her in her current form.”
Just The Tonic has made a big impression winning his first two starts at Canterbury and Rosehill and Waterhouse has no doubt he is heading for Group One company.
Waterhouse considered a start in Saturday's $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) for Just The Tonic but decided to wait for the Spring Stakes as she feels the extra 200m on the big Newcastle track will be ideal for the robust Redoute's Choice colt.
The versatile seven-year-old Stratofortress is on the comeback trail after he went amiss last December when running second at Rosehill.
"I sent him home to his owner Joe Manning's property at Cootamundra," Waterhouse said.
"That country area is magnificent and it helped do the trick for Stratofortress.
"What a great double it would be winning the Newcastle Cup and then coming back and winning the Cameron.
"He is the type of horse that could do it. I have entered him for the Epsom and the Metropolitan and will just wait and see where he takes us this spring.
Stratofortress has had two recent barrier trials
"He has shown no trouble with his legs since coming back and his two trials have pleased me,” Waterhouse said.
