It’s a stable that is usually up and about when the major silverware is being dished out and this autumn is no exception for the training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Fresh off the back of Alligator Blood’s dominant Group 1 Futurity Stakes win at Sandown last weekend, they appear to have plenty of live hopes in the impending Sydney features including fellow Group 1 winners In The Congo and Converge.
Both four-year-olds stretched their legs in an exhibition gallop at Randwick last Saturday, and co-trainer Bott is happy with how they have presented this time in.
“(In The Congo) has come up in great shape, feel he’s back in really good order,” Bott told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday morning.
“I feel he’s probably a little bit more forward this time around. The Galaxy has always been a nice aim for him, I thought he ran a great race in that first-up last year.”
The Snitzel entire is nominated for both the Canterbury Stakes and Challenge Stakes at Randwick this coming Saturday, but Bott may keep his powder dry with further targets on the radar later in the campaign.
“We are still looking at that race whether the 1000m (Challenge Stakes) is suitable for him to kick off in or we have another trial and wait to go first-up into the Galaxy like last year,” Bott said.
“Just thinking through the backend of the campaign, what that might look like through the autumn and potentially through the winter for him.
“There is a nice program for him and a nice campaign ahead, so just looking at the bigger picture as well.”
Frankel gelding Converge will be trying to bounce back from four sub-par efforts when last in work, and Bott is hopeful he can return to the form that saw him win the Group 1 Randwick Guineas a year ago.
“Looking forward to seeing him back, no doubt his last preparation he was well below his best,” Bott said.
“I couldn’t necessarily put it down to any particular reason, so I just feel he may not have come up last campaign. A few different heavy tracks at various stages he struggled a bit with.
“I think we can go third-up into the Doncaster, a mile here at Randwick is where he’s been successful previously.
“He looks to be pretty well weighted again in that particular race so if we can get him there third-up, I think that will have him well prepared and the right pattern that will suit him.”
The Waterhouse and Bott combination also aims to play a strong hand in the major two-year-old contests, headlined by filly Platinum Jubilee and the unbeaten Red Resistance.
“(Platinum Jubliee) has done terrific since the Sliver Slipper and I thought it was a run full of merit,” Bott said.
“She’s had plenty of racing to get her to this point, obviously we want her going in fresh and well and not too over-taxed or having too many starts going into the (Golden) Slipper.
“Just going to weigh that up over the next 24 hours and see where we feel she is best placed.”
Russian Revolution colt Red Resistance has looked impressive in both victories to date and Bott is keen to see him take the next step in the Group 2 Todman Stakes this weekend.
“Obviously that’s an important race for him in the lead-up to the Golden Slipper,” Bott said.
“He’s certainly got the class and the speed to be a Golden Slipper type, so that’s what everything is focused on at present.”