For the past fortnight Gai Waterhouse has been telling anyone prepared to listen to make sure they back Epsom Handicap winner Fat Al in tomorrow’s $1 million Emirates Stakes.

“He has settled into life at Flemington like he’s been here all his life. Have a look at him, he just looks magnificent,” Waterhouse told TVN’s Neale Donnelley at Flemington track-work last Friday.

Nash Rawiller had just completed his morning’s work and reported to Gai he felt fantastic.

“He’s really peaking – feels great,” was Rawiller’s simple comment.

Now suspended, Rawiller has been replaced in tomorrow’s Group 1 by Tommy Berry, who rode a brilliant tactical front-of-the-field race on Glencadam Gold for Waterhouse in the Melbourne Cup, before running sixth behind Green Moon.

“I’m telling everyone to back this horse – Fat Al – he’ll win the Emirates he’s going that well,” an always confident Waterhouse said.

Fat Al will go into tomorrow’s Emirates on the fresh side, having not raced for a month since his all-the-way win in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 6.

Streama is an early scratching from the Emirates Stakes with heat in a leg.