GAI WATERHOUSE supporters were once again left haemorrhaging after hot pots Power Personified and Swift Alliance were rolled in the opening two races at Randwick yesterday and stablemate Five Ways was rolled as favourite in the sixth.
"We are down but not out, we are bleeding from all extremities but we are back ready with boxing gloves on," Waterhouse said.
Favourite backers willing to lay red odds were poleaxed when boom juvenile Power Personified blacked out at $1.65 in the opener, while the unbeaten Swift Alliance finished second behind Youthful Jack at the same quote.
The flashing light may have arrived at Canterbury on Thursday night when Waterhouse's only starter for the evening, the two-year-old Idolised, was rolled as a $1.70 favourite in the opening race.
Stable jockey Nash Rawiller declared debutante Power Personified, which finished sixth behind another first starter in Phenomenal Lass ($41), raced "15 lengths below his best" before Racing NSW stewards sought an explanation.
"He pulled up sound of wind and limb?" chief stipe Ray Murrihy asked.
"Couldn't fault him," Rawiller replied. "It was the first time he'd taken a sit in behind them, I don't know if he half-turned it up or he got lost."
The opening race's second-favourite Readyor, which was impressive winning on debut, also flopped after racing outside the leader, which was the case with Swift Alliance in the following race.
"Actually he felt stronger than he did last week," Readyor's jockey, Jeff Penza, told stewards.
Waterhouse described Power Personified as "a very big, lazy colt", adding "caught wide in this wind, this is gale-force, he was just never in the race".
"It is interesting the two winners out of those races had the cover and the fence," she said. "Anything wide, just screw up your betting ticket."
Five Ways travelled three wide when starting $3.50 favourite in the sixth. Five Ways rallied to finish fourth, with Mr Incredible gaining the nod in a tricky photo-finish from the flying Rubinda.
Swift Alliance is off to the spelling paddock, and Waterhouse said Power Personified would more than likely race again over a longer distance and maybe run in blinkers.
The odds about Phenomenal Lass surprised trainer Paul Murray, who said the filly "was a natural racehorse" in the mould of his father Bede's 2002 Golden Slipper runner-up Victory Vein.
"She reminds us of Victory Vein, she is little, down in front, a bit behind, just needs maturing," Paul Murray said. "She does everything perfect - everyone was talking about Gai's [Power Personified], that worried us a bit, but she'd won a trial at Kembla against the older horse, she showed us a little bit then. "Nothing worries her, that's a good thing with two-year-olds, she is a natural."
The Allan Denham-trained Youthful Jack's victory earned it a trip to Queensland. Formerly prepared by part-owner Ross Stitt at Taree, Youthful Jack has won eight from 12 starts after making light of 60kg yesterday, with emerging apprentice Jamie Quinnell riding a perfectly judged race. >KYLIE GIVES THEM THE OLD ONE, TWO
Gavenlock saddled up Ratatat Lass and Mary's Grace and her delight was evident when they filled the first two placings.
"It's a shame to have two horses going so well that I had to put them in up against each other," Gavenlock said after Ratatat Lass gave apprentice Peter Wells a winning double.
"They are both very nice mares and are in form.
"They are holding their form well, so hopefully more wins are in store."
Meanwhile, the well-bred Arlington finally broke through for just his second win at start 20 when wearing down Circle Of Fame in the fourth.
"He has always had the ability, he's just been a bit unlucky, and sometimes these horses take time to develop," said winning trainer Graeme Rogerson.
Arlington is a half-brother to Cox Plate winner Savabeel and half-sister Zavana won the opening race at Sandown yesterday for trainer David Hayes.
"He will never be gelded, given the pedigree that he has," Rogerson said.
"He is too valuable. He did run fifth in the Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne, so I'll push on to a race like the Summer Cup now.
"The Christmas Cup along the way is an option."
JOHN SCHELL GOSFORD trainer Kylie Gavenlock could not have hoped for a better result than the finish in the Manchester Unity Australia Handicap.
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