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2025 Gai Waterhouse Classic: Gerringong for John Singleton
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The party-style atmosphere on Ipswich Cup day may not be the ideal sweet spot for a 'delicate' filly but it is where John Singleton's youngster Gerringong can make a spring carnival statement.
Larrikin owner Singleton has slashed his racing interests in recent years but thought enough of Gerringong to keep her to race, in partnership with some rugby league greats including Mick Cronin, Bob O'Reilly and Peter Wynn.
The three-year-old filly is favourite for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) as Waterhouse tries to win the race named after her for the second time in six years.
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Gerringong has won two of her five career starts and what stands out on stalks is her effort in the $3m Sunlight 3YO slot race on the Sunshine Coast in January.
She finished only 4½ lengths off subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry, with 2024 Golden Slipper champ Lady of Camelot the runner-up that night.
'The first and second horses in that race were two proper Group 1 horses and she wasn't too far off them, having a luckless run,' co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
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'She was only having her third race start and also probably coming to the back end of her preparation.
'She did a remarkable job in that one campaign and she has shown improvement this time in.
'She is quite a delicate sort of horse but she has got plenty of natural talent.
'As she keeps getting deeper into her career and matures and becomes seasoned, hopefully we can see a nice progressive filly.
'She was showing promise in her early days so Singo was more than happy to hold onto her and some of the other partners (owners) he put into the horse were keen to race her as well.'
Gerringong will have plenty of admirers in Saturday's Gai Waterhouse Classic. Picture: Bradley Photos
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Gerringong has had two starts this campaign for two runner-up finishes, in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone and the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm.
At Eagle Farm, she got well back and rattled to the line.
From a wide barrier around the tricky Ipswich track, Bott is hoping the filly can be closer in the run and show she can be a spring carnival player.
'We should be able to give her a nice freshen up after this and find something in the spring for her,' Bott said.
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'Last start, she was a bit slow into stride when I thought she might have been a bit more forward in the run.
'She does have tactical speed, so she may have an opportunity to be a bit more forward at Ipswich to try to offset the barrier.
'This race used to be raced over 1350m and I wouldn't have minded if it still was.
'I think we could stretch this filly to 1400m-1600m going forward, but she will still be good at 1200(m) at this point.'
Adrian Bott. Picture: Getty Images
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Sydney jockey Regan Bayliss will have the job of working some magic with Gerringong from the wide barrier.
Bayliss has a strong book of rides on Ipswich Cup day including Osmose for Waterhouse and Bott in the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner Stakes favourite Warnie for Ciaron Maher.
Originally published as John Singleton's 'delicate' filly Gerringong to rock Ipswich as Gai Waterhouse bids to win her own race
