2025 Winter Cup: Adrian Bott, Gai Waterhouse saddle up two
But trainer Adrian Bott has a quiet confidence in both imported geldings going into the Listed $200,000 Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
With co-trainer Gai Waterhouse in England trying to source their stable's next overseas equine recruits, Bott has kept famous Tulloch Lodge's winning momentum going in recent weeks.
In fact, if Bear On The Loose or Sir Lucan can win the Winter Cup or the Waterhouse-Bott team has success at Eagle Farm, it will move the training partnership closer to a career-best season at Group and Listed level.
There's less than two months of the 2024-25 season remaining but Waterhouse and Bott have already trained the winners of 33 stakes races and need just two more black type wins to equal their previous best return at feature race level they set last season.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Bear On The Loose early Winter Cup favourite at $3.60 with stablemate and defending champ Sir Lucan at $23.
Bott also conceded Bear On The Loose was the stable's number one seed even though the five-year-old has never been out to 2400m in his 13 career starts.
Bear On The Loose goes to the Winter Cup after three lead-up runs including a close second to Glory Daze over 2000m at Randwick last start.
'We feel he's racing well and the form out of his Randwick run is good,'' Bott said.
'He stuck on nicely that day on a very heavy track and the drier conditions (Rosehill is rated a soft 5) are going to be to his advantage.''
Bott said he expected Bear On The Loose to take up the frontrunning role.
'I think he is most likely to lead and hopefully he can roll along at his own tempo,'' Bott said. 'I'm confident he can run 2400m.''
• Archibald army turns up the heat in Winter Cup
Sir Lucan has been winless since taking out the Winter Cup 12 months ago.
But the seven-year-old returns to defend his 'title' and if successful will join Royal Bark (1962-63) as the only horses to win successive Winter Cups.
The only other multiple Winter Cup winner was the remarkable Destiny's Kiss – but his wins were six years apart in 2013 and 2019. The former Joe Pride-trained stayer also ran second (2018) and third (2017) in the feature Rosehill staying race.
Sir Lucan has only had the one start this campaign when he failed to beat a rival to the line in the Lord Mayor's Cup won by Touristic two weeks ago.
Bott was cautiously optimistic about Sir Lucan's chances of staging the ultimate form reversal and going back-to-back in the Winter Cup.
'Sir Lucan got further back than expected first-up, he should improve again but is still working his way back to his peak,'' Bott said.
'He's worked well since and he's certainly capable of running well but Bear On The Loose is the stable's best chance.''
• Ray & Duff's best bets for Saturday: 'First-up run was hard to miss'
Bott also has another import, Assailant, set to race competitively in the TAB Handicap (2000m).
Assailant, by English super sire Dubawi, shaped promisingly at his Australian debut when third to Hell To Pay at Canterbury.
'It was a nice run from Assailant a couple of weeks ago and he's in great shape,'' Bott enthused.
'He should improve on a bigger track and more suitable distance. He's a young horse with a future.''
• EXPERT TIPS: Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday
Bott, who also has topweight Ganbare resuming in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m), said Waterhouse will attend England's famous Goffs Sale next Monday on the eve of the Royal Ascot carnival.
'We are going through the catalogue for the Goffs Sale next week,'' Bott said.
'Gai will be there and we have had some luck at that sale. Pornichet came from that sale, as did New Endeavour.''
Pornichet won the Group 1 Doomben Cup a decade ago and New Endeavour, a last start winner of the Lord Mayor's Cup, is one of the main chances in the Group 2 $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
'New Endeavour won really well last start and has trained on nicely,'' Bott said.
'He is going to this distance for the first time but that win will give him confidence.''
The Waterhouse-Bott stable is also represented in both Group 1 races with The Instructor lining up in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and Farnicle is in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m).
• EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, race-by-race tips, analysis for Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm on Saturday
The Instructor has won three of his four starts this campaign including the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone a month ago.
Bott said it has been a deliberate tactic to keep The Instructor on the fresh side for the Stradbroke.
'The Instructor is in good form, he's deep into his campaign but he's well in himself,'' Bott said.
'The plan was if he ran well at Scone then the option was to go to the Stradbroke and we have given him a trial between runs.
'He gets in with a lightweight (52kg) so there's plenty to like about him. Jett Stanley has won on the horse, he knows him well, and he can ride the weight.''
• Jett Hatton's Stradbroke Handicap tips, runner-by-runner form analysis
Bott also made a strong case for Farnicle after the two-year-old's good second to Cool Archie in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes.
'Farnicle keeps improving every time he steps out,'' Bott said.
'He is out of a good New Zealand mare (Jennifer Ecles who won the 2020 NZ Oaks) so there is plenty to suggest he will stay the trip. I think he will be suited by the mile.''
• Jett Hatton's JJ Atkins tips, runner-by-runner form analysis
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained Campaldino is aiming for a fourth consecutive win in the Group 2 $400,000 Brisbane Cup (3200m).
'Campaldino has had a good grounding for 3200m,'' Bott said. 'The way he has been relaxing and racing gives you the confidence he will see it out.''
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
20 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Olympic, Commowealth Games champs added to Sport Australia Hall of Fame
A six-pack of exceptional athletes and one of the world's most respected sports medicine practitioners have been announced as the newest members of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. From Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallists to champions of team and individual sports, six of the nation's most exceptional athletes will be inducted into one of the most select clubs in the country in November after their contributions on and off the field were recognised. Two-time grand slam tournament champion Lleyton Hewitt, four-time VFL/AFL premiership winner Jason Dunstall, Commonwealth Games and Netball World Cup-winning captain Laura Geitz, former Australian rugby league captain Cameron Smith, Olympic snowboard gold medallist Torah Bright and Australia's most-capped Socceroo Mark Schwarzer make up a stellar list set to be recognised. They will join an honour role featuring the biggest names in Australian sport, including Sir Donald Bradman, Dawn Fraser, Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe. While athlete membership of the Hall of Fame belongs exclusively to the top echelon of Australian competitors, Dr Peter Harcourt, one of Australia's most experienced sports medicine practitioners will be inducted as a general member to recognise his distinguished career spanning over four decades. Harcourt worked tirelessly with several national and international sporting organisations, including in basketball, cricket, the AFL and Commonwealth Games, while he has made significant contributions to sports medicine in injury prevention, concussion management and return-to-play protocols, as well as anti-doping monitoring and practices. Sport Australia Hall of Fame selection committee chair Bruce McAvaney said the seven new inductees was a diverse group that had represented the country in team and individual sports at the highest level. 'They've inspired generations of Australians and provided our country with so much joy,' McAvaney said. 'Nothing is obvious when choosing between champions from so many different sports but we know the class of 2025 sits comfortably alongside those who've already been recognised in the most prestigious Hall of Fame in this country.' The inductees talked of their honour at receiving recognition and the special place sport and the values it had taught them for life well beyond their playing days, played in their lives. Hewitt, who played 20 consecutive Australian Open championships and claimed the US Open and Wimbledon singles titles in a glittering career during which he became the youngest world no.1 at just 20, said the recognition was surreal. 'When you're playing your professional career it's not something you think about at all or focus on but over the years growing up in Australia we've had such a rich history – not only in our sport of tennis, but also in so many other great sports as well – that I've had so many great role models and idols that I've looked up to, all there in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame,' he said. 'So for me now to be inducted is an incredible honour.' Bright, Australia's most successful Winter Olympian after snaring snowboarding gold and silver medals across three Olympic Games, said sport had taught her 'everything'. 'Those early days skiing with my family built the foundation – connection, freedom and fun. Sport gave me confidence in who I am beyond results,' she said. 'It taught me discipline, self-awareness, and the importance of creating an environment that supports who you truly are. It taught me to believe in myself and in what's possible. It also taught me resilience … (and) most importantly, I've learned that it's all a game.' The 2025 Inductees will be celebrated and formally inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at a dinner in Melbourne on November 17, where two existing members will be elevated to Legends of Australian Sport status and the 2025 winners of The Don and The Dawn Awards will be announced.
News.com.au
25 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Race caller Tony Wode shares greatest Townsville Cup highlight ahead of his 41st call of the race
It might not be on the same breathtaking level of Makybe Diva's three straight Melbourne Cup wins, but veteran race caller Tony Wode thought the roof would come off the grandstand when Party King scored a Townsville Cup three-peat 22 years ago. The 63-year-old Wode will call his 41st Townsville Cup on Saturday, but the personal highlight of the time-honoured event was Party King's epic victory in 2002. 'I thought they'd bring the roof off the place when he won that third time,' Wode said of the huge crowd at Cluden Park that memorable day. 'He probably stands out as the biggest highlight for me calling all those cups. They've named a grandstand after him up here so he's still remembered. 'I think Party King stands out because given the modern-day handicapping system, it's highly unlikely another horse will be able to do that again.' The Ricky Vale-trained Namazu had a golden chance for a three-peat last year when the gelding was favourite but he bucked at the barriers and finished last. Wode, one of nine siblings, developed a passion for racing from his late dad Phil, who worked as a horse and greyhound trainer. The veteran race caller learned the ropes from his mentor Graham Sewell and like most rookies in such a high-pressure role, he made a couple of blunders while finding his feet. 'You've just got to face the music,' he said. 'I made a couple of clangers in the early days and I found you've got to front up to the trainers' bar. 'There will always be a couple of trainers who will have a crack but you just have to show them you've got a set of gonads.' And like most race callers, Wode has developed a few pre-race rituals, especially for bigger meetings like the Townsville Cup, which was first contested in 1884. 'At a regular meeting I might slip downstairs and talk to some of the trainers and jockeys around the stables but on Cup Day I pretty much stay in the box,' he said. 'A lot of people are superstitious in the racing game and I'm no different. As I've gotten older, I'm far more of a creature of habit. 'I like to get there early and get myself settled. I don't like anything to be thrown up but it does happen on tracks.' Wode, who once called a rare triple dead-heat in a Townsville race meeting, doesn't hesitate when asked about his favourite Townsville Cup ride outside of Party King's outstanding achievement. 'One of my favourite cup-winning rides was Peter Losh on King's Promise (in 1985),' said Wode, who is affectionately known as 'Chopper'. 'He flew in from Sydney and I met him at the track to do an interview the day before. 'We walked part of the track together and he ran through how he was going to come from last and win it. 'It played out exactly as he said and he thundered home from last and won by a nose.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Max Gawn urges premiership winner John Longmire to take a call from Melbourne officials
Melbourne captain Max Gawn has urged prospective new coaches John Longmire and Nathan Buckley to 'take the call' from Demons officials, declaring he's moved from shocked to 'excited' about the change that is set to sweep through the club. Longmire was watching the dramatic final moments of a Test match between England and India on Monday night when informed the board had decided to sack Simon Goodwin with a year to run on his contract. Gawn labelled the move 'ballsy' and said he was right behind the decision despite teammate Ed Langdon on Wednesday suggesting he didn't agree with interim president Brad Green's declaration the players needed a 'new voice'. 'I was shocked, I didn't see it coming, and that's good management to be fair. If you did see it coming, it means things are leaking. The shock is almost a good thing,' Gawn said. 'I am a supporter of the team, a lover of the cub, they have sacked people I have loved before and I've moved on and so have they. This one is a harder one to take. 'I also have some great relationships with people who made the decision and they have explained it carefully to me why. 'Football doesn't wait for anybody. On Monday I was like 'Goodwin sacked, my life is over, I'm down in the dumps'. 'Then we trained Wednesday and I come here today and I'm like 'I can't wait for Western Bulldogs, what we do in the trade period? I can't wait to see what coach we get in'.' 'That would be my advice to all the other players and supporters. It's happened, now move on.' Gawn joked that Langdon 'butchered' his response as the first player put before media on Wednesday and having a new voice, after Goodwin spent nine years in charge, taking the Demons to the 2021 premiership, could be a good thing. 'Do we need a new voice? I appreciate after nine years a new voice could help,' Gawn told the Mick in the Morning radio show on Triple M. 'I was also pretty bullish on what we were building and the old voice was doing well for me. 'We are also 6-13. Good clubs don't wait. 'It's been 18 months of football we're not proud of. We were pretty positive we were building something good. The playing group is the culture and we are bullish still we are building something good and we're going to get someone in that will hopefully lead us the right way.' Gawn said he wouldn't 'delve into' the coach search but with only 18 jobs available, any hopefuls should pick up the call when Melbourne officials ring. 'I hope they do (take the call),' he said. 'I feel like it's a call you should take.'
