Adrian Bott locks in $10m Golden Eagle plans for Hawaii Five Oh

Posted by RS NewsWire at 5:19pm on October 18th

Adrian Bott has confirmed the stable's two Everest runners will continue their spring campaigns in Sydney with Hawaii Five Oh to target the Golden Eagle and Alcohol Free vying for a spot in The Invitation.

Hawaii Five Oh finished sixth to Think About It in The Everest (1200m) after going back from a wide gate and doing his best work late.

Bott believes he is looking for more ground and sees the step up to 1500m in next month's $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill as ideal.

"I can't wait for Hawaii to get to the Golden Eagle," Bott told Sky Racing radio.

"The draw hurt us a little in The Everest, we didn't quite get the run in transit that we were hoping to get, but no doubt he's ready to bounce back and win a big one himself.

"He's in really good order and has come through that race in great shape."

Bott is also keen for Alcohol Free to extend in distance and while the mare hasn't threatened in her two spring runs, he is adamant the multiple Group 1 winner will make her mark in Australia.

He is hoping she can secure a start in the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday week and bounce back to form after finishing at the tail of the Everest field.

"She is certainly going much better than that and she's a better mare than that," he said.

"Hopefully we can find the right conditions for her at some point over the carnival here, find the right race."

Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse will have a handy team at Randwick this weekend led by Converge and Zoumon in the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m).

Stablemate Journalism is a dual acceptor for the Prelude and Big Dance Wildcard (1600m) and has a better draw in the latter with gate seven compared to barrier 15 in the Five Diamonds lead-up.

Converge, who has drawn 13, is coming off an unplaced run in the Epsom Handicap and Bott is hoping a class drop will prove significant.

"He obviously has to carry a bit of weight with the penalties here (59.5kg), but it's one of the easier races we've put him in over the last twelve months," Bott said.

"Hopefully that can help him be better placed and try to get back to some winning form."

Bott is also looking forward to two-year-olds Shangri La Express and The Three Hundred making their respective debuts in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) with both juveniles on trial for a start in the Golden Gift (1100m) next month.

"These are the types, making their debuts at this time of year, you're looking towards a Golden Gift (with) and trying to qualify them for that," Bott said.

"The Three Hundred has had two impressive trials at Warwick Farm. He's shown nice improvement, so he's got a good foundation.

"Shangri La Express, just off the one trial but I thought he was very good. He's open to some nice improvement off the back of that."

More Racing News

War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes

Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...

Yesterday

2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races

The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...

Yesterday

Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn

A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...

Yesterday

Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest

Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...

Jan 18th

Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff

Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...

Jan 17th

Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations

Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...

Jan 17th

Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic

Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...

Jan 17th

Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup

Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...

Jan 17th

Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan

The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...

Jan 17th

Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef

Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...

Jan 16th