Latest news with #AdrianBott
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Beautiful day for Yulong as Pulchritudinous defies odds in Doomben victory
Just about everything Yulong touches seems to turn to gold. Even long-priced $31 winners in Brisbane whose names are just about impossible to say. Pulchritudinous – whose name roughly means physically beautiful or attractive – scored her first win since the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks last year when she was a quaddie killer at Doomben. Pulchritudinous wasn't in punters' sights in the Group 3 Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Mile but went bang as two of the fancied pair Vivy Air and Jennilala finished unplaced. Just Glamourous was the more fancied Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott contender but led and faded while her stablemate just got stronger over the final stages. The Yulong juggernaut purchased Pulchritudinous from her former New Zealand connections last year and have had to be patient with the now four-year-old mare to score her first win on Australian shores. Tim Clark has been her most regular jockey in Australia and was in the saddle at Doomben as the mare swamped her rivals at big odds. 'We are very thankful that Yulong has been more than happy to be patient with her and she has come back in good shape,' Bott said. 'Obviously she was very talented in New Zealand through her three-year-old career but it has taken a bit longer to get her into a bit of form and used to the conditions over here. 'We'd like to give her a couple of runs up here in Brisbane and she'll thrive in the conditions. 'I want to see her getting up in trip and she'll keep improving. 'I think today's performance was going to determine which way she'd go. 'Whether this lifts our sights a bit more, we'll try and think about the residual value for Pulchritudinous defies a big drift to win Race 6 at Doomben! @clarkyhk @GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • Yulong and see if we can add to that going forward. Importantly she is back in good shape today. 'Her trial earlier this month was the best we'd seen her since arrival and it was very encouraging.' Clark was elated Pulchritudinous's Australian drought had been snapped. 'I'm sure she's given Gai and Adrian a few sleepless nights,' Clark said. 'She's obviously came over here in good form from New Zealand and it has taken a long time for her to find that form. 'It has been a long time coming and a lot of work has gone into it. 'Full credit to Gai and Adrian and to her to be able to put in a performance like that.'
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘It was a very easy watch': Agarwood dominates juvenile opener at Royal Randwick
Agarwood maintained her unbeaten record with a facile win as her sire sensation, Wootton Bassett, dominated the juvenile opener at Royal Randwick on Saturday Coolmore Stud's Wootton Bassett not only sired Agarwood, winner of the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap (1200m), he also had the third and fourth placegetters, Providence and Regulated Affair. But this was all about the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained Agarwood, a naturally fast filly who jumped quickly and found the front, controlled the tempo, then sprinted clear in the straight for a consummate win. 'It was a very easy watch,'' Tulloch Lodge stable representative Neil Paine said. ' Adam (Hyeronimus, jockey) controlled it in front, the track raced beautifully and she's a terrific filly. 'This was only her second run, we know she handles wet tracks so she ticked that box, and was drawing away on the line.'' • 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! Agarwood, confidently backed into $1.95 favouritism gave nothing else a chance as she cruised home two-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Godolphin's game filly Matima ($10) with a long head to the Chris Waller-trained Providence ($31) who claimed third just in front of stablemate Regulate Affair. Hyeronimus said Agarwood did everything right during the race and handled the heavy 9 track conditions expertly. 'Agarwood was very professional,'' Hyeronimus said. 'She flew the gates, controlled the race and was too good.'' A $420,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate, Agarwood is the third foal of Paulownia, a Group 2 placegetter and a full-sister to liGroup 1 -winning sprinter Foxwedge. Agarwood's rising prominence delivers an added boost to the significant worth to talented three-year-old filly Lilac who is already a dual stakeswinner. The brilliant Agarwood made a late start to her juvenile career but has quickly made up for lost time with successive city wins this month. Agarwood leads all the way and dominates in the first at Randwick! ðŸ'¥ @GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • Paine explained that Agarwood was 'only a tiny filly' and had needed time to grow and develop. 'If you have a look at her she is still not a big filly,'' Paine said. 'Agarwood was in and out (of the stable) because we were hoping to get some 'growth' on her. 'We have had her in a number of times just trying to strengthen her up so that is why she was late starting (her career).'' Paine said Agarwood was only about 15.2 hands and would not weigh 500kg so the filly has plenty of growing to do. 'She needs to strengthen out as she is a very light filly,'' he said. 'But once our horses have a couple of runs and go out for a spell they come back bigger and better.'' Paine was unclear whether Waterhouse and Bott planned to continue Agarwood's preparation and consider a stakes race in Brisbane for her in coming weeks. 'We will see how she pulls up,'' he said. 'When they have a run on a heavy track it is always a bit of a worry how they come through the race. 'But she seemed to handle everything so easily today so Gai and Adrian might look for a suitable stakes race over 1200m for her.'' Agarwood is another promising two-year-old by Coolmore's young stallion Wootton Bassett, who is second to Ole Kirk in the First Season Sires premiership. Wootton Bassett is also doing great things in Europe and such is the demand for the stallion, Coolmore has set his service fee this spring breeding season at an Australian record $385,000. Providence and Regulated Affair, two sons of Wootton Bassett, both ran well in defeat and are likely to be given their chance to earn starts in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm next month. First starter Providence made up considerable ground late in the race to claim the minor placing with Waller's stable representative, Charlie Duckworth, confirming the youngster was Brisbane-bound. 'The plan was always to take Providence to Queensland in a fortnight's time for a race over 1500m,' Duckworth said. 'He is a beautiful, scopey colt, and potentially he could go to the JJ Atkins. 'Adam rode Agarwood an absolute treat but it hindered everyone else in terms of turning the race into a bit of a sit and sprint for them but Regulated Affair still acquitted himself well. 'Regulated Affair could also go north, too. He will either have one more run down here and go up or head straight up.'
The Australian
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Eliyass aiming to turn a 20-length defeat into Doomben Cup success
How to turn a last-start 20-length defeat into a Group 1 triumph? It will be hard, but potentially not quite as hard as you might think. Eliyass, the French-bred import that Gai Waterhouse last year declared was her most talented stayer since 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, was beaten so far in the Hollindale Stakes he would have needed binoculars to see the winner Antino. READ: 'No two-horse race': Gollan insists chances aplenty in Doomben Cup But when a post-race veterinary examination revealed that Eliyass was coughing, stewards ordered an endoscopic examination. Nothing significant was found and, after a track gallop at Doomben on Tuesday, co-trainer Adrian Bott gave him the all clear to take his place in Saturday's Group 1 Doomben Cup. • 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! Bott has seen big form reversals due to track conditions before and said the Hollindale was a total forget run, with Eliyass not enjoying the heavy conditions and kickback on the day. 'I think in situations where you get those kind of conditions like we saw on the Gold Coast, you do have to be very forgiving,' Bott said. 'He was getting a lot of kickback, racing in among the pack, stuff was coming back at him. 'It wasn't an ideal spot for him to be in, we will just put what happened first-up down to the track. 'I have seen big form reversals before and all we can go on is what the horse has been showing us since. 'He worked well on Tuesday morning and all is in order. 'It is probably not ideal in that it would be better for the horse to have taken some confidence from his last run. 'But the horse hasn't taken any harm from the run.' READ: Heathcote poised to spring upset with luckless $2.3m earner Eliyass will take his place in Saturday's Doomben Cup Picture: Getty Images Bookmakers are certainly being forgiving and have high respect for Eliyass which is rated a $9 chance in the Doomben Cup where he will take on fancied pair Pride Of Jenni and Antino which sit atop of betting. READ: TAB's strategic move throws early markets into a frenzy Eliyass went on a terrific winning run when he kicked off racing Down Under last year before he tired at the end of his spring campaign and did not fire in his last two runs, including in the Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington in November. He has drawn the widest barrier (13) in the Doomben Cup and jockey Tim Clark will have a pivotal decision to make after the gates open. Bott expects him to be in the first few as Pride Of Jenni scoots away with her freewheeling style. 'Eliyass is a horse who can generally be ridden handy to the speed anyway,' Bott said. 'Potentially, he could be one of the closest to Pride Of Jenni in the run. 'We are drawn out wide, we are going to have to be making a decision there. 'We will probably be trying to put him in the race. 'We are expecting them to run along and be strung out, that may help offset the draw as well.'
Daily Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
$2.7m import Sir Delius shows he is up for Melbourne Cup with impressive win at Doomben
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The $2.7m purchase Sir Delius rubber-stamped his Melbourne Cup credentials with an impressive victory in the Group 3 JRA Chairman's Handicap at Doomben on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stallion carried the top weight of 60kg on a heavy track and still had more than enough class to beat home Floating ($7.50) and Manzoice ($12) in the $200,000 race over 2000m. • 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! On the strength of one run in Australia, Sir Delius immediately firmed from $26 into $15 to win the race that stops a nation on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington. The four-year-old, a son of Frankel, had come to Australia on the back of an eighth place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France and he looked right at home on the heavy ground at Doomben with Tim Clark riding. 'He's bred to get over much further and his form in Europe suggests that as well,' Bott said. 'He was always purchased as a Melbourne Cup prospect. 'He's got that quality about him so everything we do in this preparation will be geared towards that.' Sir Delius races in the colours of businessman and philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn, who has won plenty of Australia's big races but never a Melbourne Cup. In his twilight years, Sir Owen has made no secret that the Melbourne Cup is the race he craves to win more than any other. 'He's lightly-raced and has been very well looked after in his career,' Bott said. 'He's a lovely big individual and a beautiful physical specimen. He thrives on his work and has a great constitution. 'Sir Owen Glenn identified him as a Melbourne Cup prospect and we were able to partner up with him as a major shareholder. We put together a nice partnership with some existing stable clients.' Sir Delius' next assignment is likely to be the Group 2 $1.2m Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day on June 14 at Eagle Farm. He was bought for a record-breaking 1.3 million guineas ($A2.7m) at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale at Newmarket in October. Sir Delius won three of his six starts for French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Pride mare flies on heavy track Gun jockey Jason Collett needed all of his riding skills to guide Sydney mudlark In Flight to victory in the Listed Magic Millions Bright Shadow (1110m) at Doomben on Saturday. The Joe Pride-trained favourite ($2.80) relished the Heavy 8 track to cross the finishing post almost two lengths ahead of Kin ($3.40), with Midnight In Tokyo ($18) in third. In Flight was caught in a tricky position coming around the bend but Collett was able to find some space, despite copping a bump, and power home in the straight to jag the $160,000 race. The four-year-old mare improved her record on heavy tracks to four wins from six starts. 'She got a bit further back than we had anticipated in the early stages,' Sydney trainer Pride said. 'But she's a very adept mare on wet going and when she got a bit of clear room, she really stretched out. 'Particularly the fillies who go well on the wet, the big difference is their ability to skip across the ground whereas heavier horses just tend to sink into the ground.' Pride said he would consider the $300,000 Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 for In Flight's next journey. 'I can't help but think she'll run out a strong 1200m,' he said. 'But we'll get her home first and take a look over her. 'We just want to take her to wherever there's a wet track really. There are options in Sydney but we'll keep our eye on the weather and go wherever it's bad. 'She's probably not a Group horse on dry ground, but in the wet she grows another leg.' Pride was full of praise for In Flight's toughness after she was bumped just before the straight but still went on to blouse her opposition. 'When she got into the bumping duel I was pretty confident she would come out on top,' he said. 'She's got that tenacity you need, and she's a lovely mare to have anything to do with.' Collett, who had earlier won on Queensland's grey flash El Morzillo, was impressed with how In Flight travelled, despite copping a bump. 'She won it easily in the end, but we got into a bit of a bumping duel,' Collett said. 'She's probably not the biggest horse so I was a bit worried when she got squeezed, but she picked up again and I love the way she travelled. 'She was so effective and efficient on the ground. She's a lovely mare and it was nice to win some black type for Joe and her big group of owners.' Originally published as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott import Sir Delius makes impressive start in Group 3 JRA Chairman's Handicap at Doomben
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott import Sir Delius makes impressive start in Group 3 JRA Chairman's Handicap at Doomben
The $2.7m purchase Sir Delius rubber-stamped his Melbourne Cup credentials with an impressive victory in the Group 3 JRA Chairman's Handicap at Doomben on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained stallion carried the top weight of 60kg on a heavy track and still had more than enough class to beat home Floating ($7.50) and Manzoice ($12) in the $200,000 race over 2000m. On the strength of one run in Australia, Sir Delius immediately firmed from $26 into $15 to win the race that stops a nation on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington. The four-year-old, a son of Frankel, had come to Australia on the back of an eighth place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France and he looked right at home on the heavy ground at Doomben with Tim Clark riding. 'He's bred to get over much further and his form in Europe suggests that as well,' Bott said. 'He was always purchased as a Melbourne Cup prospect. 'He's got that quality about him so everything we do in this preparation will be geared towards that.' Sir Delius impresses in his Australian debut, surging to victory at Doomben! @GaiWaterhouse1 @clarkyhk â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Sir Delius races in the colours of businessman and philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn, who has won plenty of Australia's big races but never a Melbourne Cup. In his twilight years, Sir Owen has made no secret that the Melbourne Cup is the race he craves to win more than any other. 'He's lightly-raced and has been very well looked after in his career,' Bott said. 'He's a lovely big individual and a beautiful physical specimen. He thrives on his work and has a great constitution. 'Sir Owen Glenn identified him as a Melbourne Cup prospect and we were able to partner up with him as a major shareholder. We put together a nice partnership with some existing stable clients.' Sir Delius' next assignment is likely to be the Group 2 $1.2m Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day on June 14 at Eagle Farm. He was bought for a record-breaking 1.3 million guineas ($A2.7m) at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale at Newmarket in October. Sir Delius won three of his six starts for French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. â– â– â– â– â– Pride mare flies on heavy track Gun jockey Jason Collett needed all of his riding skills to guide Sydney mudlark In Flight to victory in the Listed Magic Millions Bright Shadow (1110m) at Doomben on Saturday. The Joe Pride -trained favourite ($2.80) relished the Heavy 8 track to cross the finishing post almost two lengths ahead of Kin ($3.40), with Midnight In Tokyo ($18) in third. In Flight was caught in a tricky position coming around the bend but Collett was able to find some space, despite copping a bump, and power home in the straight to jag the $160,000 race. The four-year-old mare improved her record on heavy tracks to four wins from six starts. 'She got a bit further back than we had anticipated in the early stages,' Sydney trainer Pride said. 'But she's a very adept mare on wet going and when she got a bit of clear room, she really stretched out. 'Particularly the fillies who go well on the wet, the big difference is their ability to skip across the ground whereas heavier horses just tend to sink into the ground.' In Flight finds clear air to win the Magic Millions Bright Shadow for @PrideRacing! ✈ï¸� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Pride said he would consider the $300,000 Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 for In Flight's next journey. 'I can't help but think she'll run out a strong 1200m,' he said. 'But we'll get her home first and take a look over her. 'We just want to take her to wherever there's a wet track really. There are options in Sydney but we'll keep our eye on the weather and go wherever it's bad. 'She's probably not a Group horse on dry ground, but in the wet she grows another leg.' Pride was full of praise for In Flight's toughness after she was bumped just before the straight but still went on to blouse her opposition. 'When she got into the bumping duel I was pretty confident she would come out on top,' he said. 'She's got that tenacity you need, and she's a lovely mare to have anything to do with.' Collett, who had earlier won on Queensland's grey flash El Morzillo, was impressed with how In Flight travelled, despite copping a bump. 'She won it easily in the end, but we got into a bit of a bumping duel,' Collett said. 'She's probably not the biggest horse so I was a bit worried when she got squeezed, but she picked up again and I love the way she travelled. 'She was so effective and efficient on the ground. She's a lovely mare and it was nice to win some black type for Joe and her big group of owners.'
