Mornington trainer Clayton Douglas is finding his stride with the increased workload after recently taking charge of the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.
The Freedman father-and-son training partnership faced a 28-day disqualification last month following the conclusion of an inquiry into an accidental race-day treatment.
Douglas has stepped in as the ‘caretaker’ trainer and has witnessed his stable numbers double, humorously remarking, ‘I was born for this’.
While he is managing the Freedman team’s horses, his own string has not been overlooked. His Everest winner Giga Kick is in training and gearing up for a first-up attempt at the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown in September.
With Giga Kick commanding prime attention in the Douglas stable, work continues on Mr Waterville as the jumps season nears its end.
Douglas, a former jockey who won the Grand National Hurdle, has earmarked that race for Mr Waterville at Sandown next month. A key part of the jumper’s preparation will be the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington this Saturday.
Having secured victory in the Australian Hurdle at Sandown in May, Mr Waterville has been a revelation over the jumps this campaign, and Douglas is confident the gelding will perform well on the flat this Saturday.
In his last flat start, Mr Waterville finished eighth over 2540m at Flemington on June 20. When previously trained by Chris Waller, who retains a share in the gelding’s ownership, he finished second in a 2800m race on Melbourne Cup Day.
“He’ll have a little tick over run on Saturday before he runs in the National,” Douglas said.
“The 2800 (metres) at Flemington will suit him. He ran really well there over the 2500 (metres) last time and he’s been a good performer over the 2800 at Flemington before.
“He ran second at that distance on Cup Day, so we know the trip will be no problem, and for what we’ve seen on the flat recently, I’m sure he might be one of the chances, especially with no weight on his back.”
With two substantial prize money races remaining to conclude the jumps season in Victoria, Douglas is weighing his options for Mr Waterville.
The $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) appears a strong possibility, while the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 16 is also under consideration.
“He’s had a long preparation, but the jumping has been the trick to getting him going,” Douglas stated.
“He’s been able to get some good prize money in the last eight weeks and hopefully he can keep going towards some of the bigger jump’s races.
“There’s the Grand National Hurdle on August 2 and then we’ll just sum things up, but there is a chance he may switch into the Grand National Steeplechase a fortnight later.
“I am mindful it is his first jumping campaign, and I’d love to get him back down to Warrnambool to win a Brierly or the Grand Annual next year with him.
“I think we took the sting out of him in the Lafferty (over jumps most recently when second) by backing him up seven days after his Flemington run, so he might go into the National Hurdle a little bit fresher.”
Betting on the Grand National Hurdle is now open at Australian betting sites.