Star trainer combo Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott out to break Australasian Oaks drought
It is 24 years since Gai Waterhouse tasted success in the Australasian Oaks when Tempest Morn took out the 2000m Classic.
Now in a training partnership with Adrian Bott, the pair will have dual representation in Saturday's Group 1 contest for three-year-old fillies.
Too Darn Lizzie and Phenom will line up in the 16-horse strong field at Morphettville.
After three runs so far this campaign, Bott said the stable was prepared to roll the dice and try Too Darn Lizzie for the first time at 2000m on Saturday.
Too Darn Lizzie has placed in all three outings this campaign, all at Stakes level at Caulfield, Flemington and Moonee Valley respectively, but has not raced since The Valley effort when second in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m).
'She's had a trial in between runs,' Bott said.
'Her form this time in has been excellent. The 2000 metres is new territory for her, but she's shown indications that she will handle that sort of trip and we have to take in her class as well.
'We always wanted to stretch her to a mile. We did that early in her three-year-old season and now she's had a couple of preparations and some grounding for it.
'Against her own age and sex, there's plenty there to suggest she will see it (2000m) out strongly.'
Phenom has had a slightly different campaign to her stablemate after starting the preparation in a Stakes race in Sydney before winning a benchmark race at Sandown in early March.
Waterhouse and Bott stepped the filly up to Stakes company again with a third-place finish in the Alexandra Stakes before running third in the Oaks lead-up, the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on April 12.
Bott said Phenom had stayed on in Adelaide following that assignment to prepare for Saturday's Group 1 outing.
'She ran over 1800 metres last time and I thought she ran it out strongly after hitting a bit of a flat spot, or getting a little bit lost on the turn,' Bott said.
'She had raced that way of going, before but she seemed to get a little bit unbalanced and lost a bit of momentum, but she was very good through the line.
'Indications are that she should appreciate the 2000 metres as well.'
In form jockey Blake Shinn partners Too Darn Lizzie while leading South Australian jockey, apprentice Rochelle Milnes, will ride Phenom.
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