Adrian Bott doubts whether Gai Waterhouse will be up in the early hours of the morning in the US to watch Shangri La Spring in the Queensland Guineas
Adrian Bott doubts whether his high-profile training partner Gai Waterhouse will be up in the early hours of the morning in the United States to watch classy colt Shangri La Spring run around in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
But Waterhouse, who is in the US to attend the famous Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Sunday morning (AEST), will be there in spirit at least as favourite Shangri La Spring looks to strike an early blow for the powerful stable in the $350,000 race over 1600m.
Bookmakers have listed the last-start Frank Packer Plate winner as the $4.80 favourite ahead of the Nathan Doyle-trained filly Churchill's Choice ($5), Victorian gelding Wonder Boy ($5) and Depth Of Character ($5.50) from the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald stable.
Judging by her social media posts, Australian racing's queen of the turf Waterhouse looks to be having a ball in Kentucky.
But whether she will still be awake at around 1.40am on Saturday (Kentucky time) to watch the winning horse cross the post in the Queensland Guineas remains to be seen.
'If it's that time of morning, I doubt it,' Bott said.
'She is awake at odd hours so never say never but it does make it difficult.
'The coverage of Australian racing over there is pretty good so there's plenty of exposure.
'I think she's really enjoying her time there so far. We don't have any horses over there but there are plenty of clients who race in Australia that we train for and I think it's important to spend some time over there and appreciate the industry.'
Tim Clark will again ride Shangri La Spring on Saturday after he led all the way for a convincing victory as a $16 chance in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 19.
'It opened up a few more options for him, going out to the 2000m,' Bott said.
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'He's the type of horse who seems to have plenty of tactical and natural speed.
'I'm hoping that can offset him dropping back to the mile off that run.
'I think he can be effective in doing that but we'll plan on stretching him out again after the run on Saturday.'
Bott said the plan after Saturday was to run Shangri La Spring in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben in two weeks' time before his winter grand final, the $1m Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
Meanwhile, Wonder Boy's trainer Jerome Hunter said his gelding looked 'great' after also winning his last start, the $200,000 Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on April 12 in an aggressive ride from Jamie Mott, who will stay on for Saturday's Queensland Guineas.
Wonder Boy spent a week in Sydney with stablemate Magarten before travelling to Brisbane.
'He just takes a bit to wind up so he's certainly crying out for 1600m,' Hunter said.
'I'm actually glad Shangri La Spring is there because he'll add some speed which will help us.'
Hunter said he loved coming to Brisbane where he had enjoyed success with mare Barb Raider, who won the Group 2 The Roses (2100m) at Eagle Farm in 2022 before backing up to finish second in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) behind Gypsy Goddess.
'It's been a long preparation,' he said about Wonder Boy's campaign.
'I've had a lot of success at Eagle Farm so I can't wait to get back there.
'Barb Raider won The Roses last time I came up here, and then was second in the Oaks so it's a good hunting ground, Eagle Farm.'
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