A top effort from the Team at
Gai Waterhouse Racing added with a superb ride by
Blake Shinn combined to produce success for
The Offer as he won the $100,000 Listed XXXX Gold Hawkesbury Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
The Offer regained his Sydney Cup winning form and has rekindled Melbourne Cup ambitions for Hall of Fame trainer Gai.
Shinn settled back in the small field of six and despite lumping 61kg took off with a daring option, when he started chasing the leaders from four deep at the 600-metre mark.
The Offer rounded-up the leaders, then staved off a challenge from John Thompson's Dragon Flyer to score by one length. Campania, a further two lengths away in third.
"It didn't work out as Gai had hoped," Shinn told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"We wanted to be positive early but it was evident I couldn't be there, so with the weight I just let him settle.
"I made a decision to get on our bike and knew he was a staying horse with stamina on our side."
Gai Waterhouse's charge hadn't managed to win a race since taking out the 2014 Sydney Cup (3200m) and a disappointing spring campaign was terminated prematurely after finishing midfield behind Admire Rakti in the 2014 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
However the skill of the Lady Trainer and the class of The Offer was on display.
Congratulations to the Team at Gai Waterhouse Racing on yet another feature race win.
This was a promising return to racing by The Offer who took his record to 7 wins (including the Gr1 Sydney Cup) and 5 placings from 23 starts for $1,250,692 earnings.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse tweeted: "Sydney Cup winner The Offer returns to form with a devastating win. A superb start to his spring prep."
Sportsbet have The Offer quoted at $34 for the 2015 Melbourne Cup.