Sydney colt Hualalai has fitted seamlessly into the Flemington stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott ahead of his Melbourne debut at Caulfield on Saturday.
Hualalai is one of 21 nominations for the Group III HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) and Waterhouse was delighted with the way the colt galloped at Flemington on Monday.
The three-year-old and last start Group III winner Stampede worked over 1200m on the dirt, quickening through the last 400m in 24.73 seconds with Hualalai well on the bridle at the finish under Stephen Baster.
"He's taken to being in Melbourne like a duck to water and his work this morning was super," Waterhouse said.
"Stephen said he was on the right leg all the way, leaned into the corners and felt as though he'd been going this way all his life."
Hualalai last raced when winning over 1400m at Rosehill on July 1 and won a 1045m barrier trial at Randwick on August 21 before heading to Melbourne.
By Street Cry out of Group I winner Aloha, Hualalai cost Spendthrift Farm $625,000 as a yearling and Waterhouse believes the best is still to come.
"He's a big gross colt who finishes his breakfast by the time you get around to feeding the rest of the stable," Waterhouse said.
"He's a horse that does well in the stable and now the trip to Melbourne has sparked him up.
"He's bred to be a super miler - his dam was a Group I winner at 1500m and he's a gorgeous thing to look. The Caulfield Guineas is the race we'd like to win with him but we'll get started on Saturday."
Stephen Baster will ride Hualalai on Saturday.
