Gai’s double barrel rifle

THE irrepressible Gai Waterhouse declared she will hit Flemington “all guns blazing” in her chase for a second Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Waterhouse won the 2013 Melbourne Cup with Fiorente and she and training partner Adrian Bott have two chances to repeat that success in 2022.

Waterhouse (pictured) believes the time for another Melbourne Cup win has arrived.

“I’ll be there with guns blazing on Tuesday,” she said. “I feel really pumped up for this.”

The pair will saddle Caulfield Cup third placegetter Knights Order and stable recruit Hoo Ya Mal, who has thrilled Waterhouse with his progress since arriving at the Werribee quarantine centre. Hoo Ya Mal had his final light workout before the Melbourne Cup under Waterhouse’s watchful eye on Sunday morning.

“He put in his best gallop this morning and he’s been very relaxed every day he’s been here,” Waterhouse said.

“We’ve taken the ear muffs off and the crossover (nose band) and he’s really a very happy horse.”

Waterhouse’s clients paid a seven-figure sum for Hoo Ya Mal after his second to Desert Crown in the English Derby in June.

The English Derby is one of the world’s strongest form races, with several Group 1 winners emerging from each edition of the Classic.

Hoo Ya Mal won a Group 3 race at Goodwood two starts back but was well held in the English St Leger at Doncaster at his last run on September 11.

Waterhouse advised punters to forget that run.

“They asked him to come from last (in the St Leger) and it was a big ask,” she said.

“He went to Goodwood, a similar track, and he acquitted himself well when he was ridden more forward.”

However, Waterhouse said Hoo Ya Mal was not as mature as Fiorente, who ran second on debut for the stable in the 2012 Melbourne Cup.

“He (Fiorente) ran second at his first start for us and he got back his outlay money on that day,” Waterhouse said. “He’s a bit more immature compared to Fiorente. If you compare him to Knights Order, he’s three hands smaller and he’s not a small horse.

“I’d say that he’s still growing and maturing but he’ll run nicely on Tuesday.”

Not even drawing barrier 24 with Knights Order could dampen Waterhouse’s optimism in her stable’s chances of winning another Cup.

Gai had a simple outlook to the stayer’s terrible draw.

“I don’t worry about it. We’ve got it. We’ll live with it,” Waterhouse said.