Mr Waterville set for Grand National Hurdle after flat run

Clayton Douglas, the trainer based at Mornington, is embracing the increased demands following his recent appointment to the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.

The Freedman father and son training team were temporarily disqualified for 28 days after an inquiry into an accidental race-day treatment was concluded last month.

Douglas has assumed the role of 'caretaker' trainer and has seen his stable numbers effectively double. He jokingly commented, 'I was born for this'.

While he is managing the Freedman horses, his own have not been neglected. His Everest-winning Giga Kick is currently in training and is being prepared for an initial foray into the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown in September.

With Giga Kick taking centre stage in the Douglas stable, attention is also focused on Mr Waterville as the jumps season winds down.

Douglas, who has a history of winning the Grand National Hurdle as a jockey, has set his sights on that race for Mr Waterville at Sandown next month. A crucial part of the jumper's preparation involves the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington this coming Saturday.

Mr Waterville, a victor of the Australian Hurdle at Sandown in May, has proven to be a significant find in the jumps division this season, and Douglas is of the opinion that the gelding is capable of a strong showing on the flat this weekend.

In his most recent flat race, Mr Waterville finished eighth over 2540m at Flemington on June 20. Previously, when under the care of Chris Waller, who still holds an ownership stake in the gelding, he achieved a second-place finish in a 2800m event held on Melbourne Cup Day.

"He'll have a little tick over run on Saturday before he runs in the National," Douglas stated.

"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."

Considering the two major prize money races that mark the conclusion of the jumps season in Victoria, Douglas is evaluating the available options for Mr Waterville.

The $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) is a primary target, while the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 16 is also being considered.

"He's had a long preparation, but the jumping has been the trick to getting him going," Douglas explained.

"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."

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