The presence of Gerringong in Saturday’s listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich should raise punters’ antennae.

The first lady of Australian racing doesn’t often have a runner in her own race, but when she does, it’s worth paying attention.

It’s appropriate that one of our greatest trainers of the past 40 years, and our most successful female trainer full stop, should have a black-type race named after her.

It’s less obvious that the race should be run at Ipswich. The cradle of Queensland coal mining isn’t the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of Gai, though it’s possible the TARDIS landed there during her stint on Dr Who.

Regardless, Ipswich has been the home of the listed Gai Waterhouse Classic since 2006.

The club had to wait a decade for Gai to have a runner in her race, though Gai’s Choice (trained by David Pfieffer) won it in 2012, going on to run third in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara a week later.

Perhaps Gai was waiting till she had a decent chance, because her first Waterhouse Classic runner, Echo Gal, ran a creditable third in 2016.

Slumber Party ran fourth for Gai and new training partner Adrian Bott the following year, then the stable struck gold in 2019 with Ready To Prophet, only Gai’s third Gai Waterhouse Classic runner.

Blue Point filly Gerringong will be her fourth, and comes into the race with impeccable credentials, off close and fast-finishing seconds in the listed Denise’s Joy at Scone and the listed Queensland Day at Eagle Farm.

Waterhouse and Bott also have a chance in Saturday’s Ipswich Cup (2150m), a race Gai won with Bianca in 2008. French import Osmose is on trial at the trip but also heads to Ipswich off two feature placings.