Gai’s “IN THE VAN” Cross State Group One Double.

Seasoned racegoers are aware that the majority of horse race winners come from “up on the pace”. The first four horses in the run are supremely well placed to win most races for two important reasons; the fact of their possessing the early toe to be in the forward division suggests they are more talented than their midfield and rearward rivals, and, most races conducted comprise of low-class one-paced thoroughbreds lacking the ability to quicken and run past those up front.

However, at the elite level, once known as a “Principal Race” and now designated by Group status, we witness a special kind of thoroughbred, one with a “turn of foot”, best described as an ability to accelerate at the request of their rider. Leaders in these high class races find it hard to withstand the finishing burst of those runners who’ve spent less energy racing with cover “off the pace”, much the same as Tour De France cyclists come from behind to overwhelm those who’ve faced the wind resistance up front. Successful leaders at this level require supreme fitness and tenacity, and Gai’s two state Group One double on Saturday, is a great testament to her training ability. Wandjina at Flemington and Cosmic Endeavour at Randwick “made all” the running, to use the English expression for leading all the way, defying their high quality opposition. It is said in the betting ring that Gai’s horses are “hard to get past”, which speaks ever more loudly when it comes to Group One racing.