Adrian Bott is not quite sure yet where Wanaruah will fit within the powerhouse stable’s next season rising three-year-old ranks but he is highly confident that there can be a lot more to come after maintaining his perfect race record.
Winning on debut at Canterbury over 1250-metres in June, the colt by star sire Snitzel took out the TAB Handicap (1400m) at Randwick in impressive style with a two-length victory.
“He’s a fabulous colt and I think we saw that on debut,” Bott said of Wanaruah ($3.10).
“I thought there was good improvement and plenty more in store and I just wanted him give him that extra run this campaign, over a bit further, and test him.
“We are hoping to get a bit of seasoning in him and lift his rating for hopefully bigger things in the spring.”
Passed in at $300,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2023, that outcome may be a happy one for stud Fernrigg Farm who have stayed in the ownership.
Wanaruah was the 33rd juvenile winner for the Bott and Waterhouse stable through season 2023/24.
As impressed as Bott has been with Wanaruah so far, what lies ahead is still a question he needs to work through.
“We’ll have to go back and analyse this but timing-wise as well, it would be a relatively quick turn-around for the spring,” Bott added.
“But he always looked like the type of horse that would continue to furnish.
“He’s better than just winter form.”
Well-backed race favourite with bookmakers, Bartold ($3), failed to follow-up on the market support finishing outside of the placings more than five-lengths from the winner.