Gai Waterhouse has made a sensational start to what is expected to be
        a huge Magic Millions Carnival by saddling up Anabaa filly Heritiere to win this
        afternoon's $100,850 Indepedent Fuel Supplies Silk Stocking Handicap on the Gold Coast.After settling just off the pace set by the local performer West Ward,
        Jim Cassidy was able to push the filly to the front close to the line for an impressive
        win. 
        Heritiere further enhanced her fast finishing win by running
        a new class and race record of 1 minute 20.57 seconds. The time was nearly three tenths
        faster than Air She Goe's previous record. The winning time was only 0.24 second outside
        of Play Station's course record for the 1400 metre trip. 
        Waterhouse outlined Oaks aims for the filly after today's
        listed race win by the Anabaa filly. 
        "There's no doubt she will get further," Waterhouse
        beamed. 
         "She looks to be a real Oaks filly, I'm pretty excited about her
        future." 
        "The way she knuckled down at the finish of the race was
        very heartening," Waterhouse added. 
        The leading lady trainer was lucky to gave been even able to
        train the lightly raced filly and it was because of a rival trainer moving overseas that
        she was given the opportunity. 
        "Gary Moore picked her out at the sales for the Heads as
        he liked her and she was by a stallion they were linked to," Waterhouse said. 
        The win topped off a long 30 year association between the
        bubbly trainer and the French based Head family. 
         "They are a great family in racing. I first got to meet them
        about 30 years ago," she said. 
        "The son of Heritiere's owners Freddy was actually an
        apprentice jockey for my father (TJ Smith). He was a leading rider in France and is now
        training there," Waterhouse added. 
        Cassidy said on dismounting that the filly is sure to improve
        with experience. 
        "She had a little trouble getting to the leader (West
        Ward) and I think her lack of experience was the only reason," Cassidy said. 
        Heritiere's win was the first on what is expected to be a
        Waterhouse dominated weekend. Gai is expected to saddle up the favourites in both the
        two-year-old classic (Snowland) and the three-year-old trophy (Ha Ha). 
        Waterhouse wasn't talked into singling out one of her four
        runners in the two-year-old race. 
         "I have the favourite Snowland but I honestly think all four have
        a great chance of winning," she predicted. 
        Sadly the well performed Brisbane galloper Gay Adventure
        broke down badly in the latter stages of the race and left the course for urgent nearby
        veterinary attention. 
        The well fancied Bede Murray trained mare See the Gold was
        subsequently banned by stewards after the race. The mare held the race for a number of
        minutes after proving difficult to be loaded for the race. See the Gold will be required
        to trial to the satisfaction of stewards before racing again.  |