Let Me Sleep On It takes Caulfield feature

Let Me Sleep On It ridden by Stephen Baster wins the Thoroughbred Club Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on April 28, 2018 in Caulfield, Australia. (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Jockey Stephen Baster has continued his remarkable association with Gai Waterhouse taking out the Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield with Let Me Sleep On It.

Baster has had more than a decade-long association with Waterhouse, who now trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, dating back to the win of Aqua D’Amore in the Group One Futurity Stakes in 2007.

Saturday’s victory with Let Me Sleep On It was the second stakes win for Baster and the Waterhouse-Bott combination in the past four days after Runaway’s win in the VRC St Leger at Flemington on Wednesday.

It’s their eighth stakes win for the 2017-18 racing season, their biggest being the Group One VRC Oaks at Flemington with Pinot.

“I thought it might stop around this time last year but it’s kept going,” Baster said.

“I work well with Roger Elliott who is in charge of the stable down here and with Adrian joining Gai it has allowed her to concentrate more on the horses.”

Backed from $19 to $12, Let Me Sleep On It scored a 2-1/4 length win from Illuminaire ($21) with Persuader ($9.50) a short-head away third.

It was Baster’s second win for the afternoon having scored aboard Written Choice in the Mypunter.com Handicap.

Baster explained the decision to run Let Me Sleep On It was only made after the filly worked at Flemington on Tuesday.

“They were right on the outside and normally with two-year-olds when they are out wide they get a bit lost, but she zoomed around it,” Baster said.

“Gai was deciding whether to put her in the paddock or race, so she made the right choice.”

Baster had his first ride on the filly in the Dequetteville Stakes in Adelaide earlier in the month where she finished fifth.

He explained racing that day was conducted under fierce winds.

“Gai’s horses, they like to lead, but I didn’t lead because we were going into the head wind,” Baster said.

“It took away her advantage as she likes to roll along, so when I did take the sit she fought me a bit.

“Today they went quick early and she got in a nice rhythm and coming to the turn I thought she was going to be hard to beat.”

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