GAI WATERHOUSE has leased 30 boxes from Flemington trainer David Hayes, describing the set-up as ''first class'' and a boost for the Sydney thoroughbred team's assault on Melbourne spring carnival riches.
Waterhouse is confident her Caulfield Cup and Drake International Cup placegetter Tullamore can sneak into tomorrow week's Melbourne Cup field, while Sydney Cup runner-up Older Than Time will contest Saturday's Lexus at Flemington with a berth assured.
There will be no more appearances for last year's Caulfield Cup winner Descarado, which was scratched from last Saturday's Cox Plate due to injury and has been sent for a spell, while stablemate Herculian Prince is being aimed at the Summer Cup.
Waterhouse and stable jockey Nash Rawiller will combine with Niagara in Saturday's Victoria Derby, after the three-year-old was third behind Sabrage and Sangster in the Norman Robinson Stakes.
Those two rivals are not the ones Waterhouse is concerned about heading into the classic; Warwick Farm-trainer Ron Leemon's Manawanui is the worry after the Caulfield Guineas runner-up made it look rather easy winning Saturday's Vase at Moonee Valley. ''Very impressive, a very good horse,'' Waterhouse said yesterday. ''He is the horse to beat in the Derby.''
The Derby mission was no afterthought for Niagara, which arrived in Melbourne after a six-length midweek win at Canterbury. ''It has always been [the] intention to come down for the Derby and he is on track for that,'' Waterhouse said. ''He had a nice lead-up in the Norman Robinson, he was unlucky there. He has improved and will be right for Saturday.''
Winner of the Brisbane Cup in June, Tullamore has been bearing down on the Melbourne Cup and on the latest elimination order sits at 22. A field of 24 will run. Tullamore ran second to last year's Melbourne Cup winner Americain at Moonee Valley on Saturday. ''He pulled up super,'' Waterhouse said. ''He looks like he is in the Melbourne Cup, we'll find out more this week. He'll be nominated for Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes and the Lexus, and we'll take it from there. I'll have a look at him on Tuesday and make up my mind.''
Waterhouse secured the service of form jockey Craig Williams for the ride on Older Than Time, which is 20th in the Cup elimination order. ''He [Williams] is flying and she is doing superbly,'' Waterhouse said in reference to Williams winning the Caulfield Cup, the Geelong Cup and a Cox Plate in the space of eight days. ''There is very strong form out of the Tatt's Cup at Randwick and she was unlucky.''
Waterhouse confirmed a six-month lease had been signed with Hayes for the boxes last week and could be extended. ''I've got 15 horses down here this year for the carnival and next year I might have a lot more,'' she said. ''I'm down here for over a month. It is such an important carnival. I've leased stables from the VRC for years but I thought this was a good option. They became available, David and I have always got on good, he didn't want just anybody in there, he wanted someone he knew. It is a beautiful set-up and the horses will do well.''
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