Sicilian breaks maiden at Randwick-Kensington

It has been a juvenile season to remember for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and the Tulloch Lodge trainers are banking on that success laying important foundations for the stable’s future.

The duo produced their 33rd two-year-old winner of the term at Wednesday’s Randwick-Kensington meeting when stakes placegetter Sicilian broke her maiden in the Precise Air Plate (1150m).

The filly is part of the team’s outstanding squad of youngsters which includes Group performers Red Resistance, Platinum Jubilee, Bases Loaded and Townsend, and Bott hopes that can convert into a handy team of spring three-year-olds.

“We’re very fortunate, we’ve got some lovely stock behind us this year,” Bott said.

“Hopefully that stands up well going forward into the three-year-old season. We expect them to train on nicely and this filly in particular.

“There are a couple of nice targets if we can hold her together for the remainder of the winter, she can go into the spring fresh and have some nice targets early.”

Sicilian was one of the stable’s first juvenile runners this season, finishing midfield in the Gimcrack Stakes then returning with a Listed placing at her next preparation.

After finishing second to the promising Estriella at Gosford first-up this time in, Sicilian ($3.60 fav) dictated throughout on Wednesday to score by 1-1/2 lengths over King Of Dubai ($21) with Listentozou ($4) warming up late for third.

Winning jockey Regan Bayliss felt the filly had returned a more furnished horse and still had improvement to come fitness-wise.

“She’s a filly the stable has always had an opinion of and it’s good to see her got for a spell, come back a little stronger and more mature and put it all together today,” Bayliss said.

“She was having a good blow after that race so she’s going to improve the deeper she goes into her preparation.”

Waterhouse and Bott bookended the meeting with the speedy Omni Man ($4.20) relishing a drop back to his pet distance to upset odds-on favourite Passeggiata in the TAB Handicap (1000m).