Coast to coast runners for Waterhouse and Bott
Tulloch Lodge will stretch it’s influence across the full breadth of Australia next weekend with its usual team of runners in Sydney along with Zoumon in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes in Perth.
Trainers Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse have secured the retiring Damien Oliver to partner Zoumon, who will be a late nomination for the Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot where he is set to take on the likes of Zaaki along with the Railway Stakes quinella of Bustler and Alsephina.
Bott said he and Waterhouse would dearly love to see Five Diamonds runner-up Zoumon deliver Oliver another Group 1 before the end of the champion hoop’s decorated career.
“It really would be great, so hopefully he can do it,” Bott said of Zoumon.
“He’s in really good order. He went over there not long after his run in the Five Diamonds.
“He will be a late nomination for the Northerly Stakes next Saturday with his main aim over there being the Perth Cup.”
Waterhouse and Bott will also have a strong hand in Sydney with Surf Dancer and Dajrran possible starters in the $3 million The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick, while the stable will bid to extend it’s incredible start to the two-year-old season in the Inglis Nursery (1000m).
The training partners have produced the winners of four of the five Saturday juvenile races in Sydney, most recently with the Magic Millions-bound Storm Boy, an impressive victor at his first start on Saturday.
Storm Boy will join stablemate and Breeders’ Plate runner-up Straight Charge on the Magic Millions trail, while Bott has confirmed unbeaten colt Shangri La Express is being saved for a Golden Slipper tilt.
“He will head towards the autumn, so he’ll skip the Magic Millions,” Bott said of Shangri La Express
“Straight Charge is Magic Millions, he’ll trial again and run at the end of the month and he is obviously one of the leading (Magic Millions) chances for us on what he’s done to date.”
Straight Charge was among a number of juveniles to trial well for Tulloch Lodge at Randwick on Tuesday, along with filly Toque, who heads to the Wyong Magic Millions, and Jupiter Hills, a daughter of Exceedance who is set to line up in Saturday’s Inglis Nursery.
“I’ve got a lot of time for her,” Bott said of Jupiter Hills.
“It’s not easy for a debut but it’s the right race to have a crack at.”
More Racing News
Adelaide hosts Niance's campaign launch
Grahame Begg, the trainer, is travelling to Adelaide featuring his capable mare Niance, potentially opening doors to a Brisbane-focused campaign for the quick runner.Since Flemington lacks fitting sprint races for Niance on Saturday, Begg chooses the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) held at Morphettville.By chance, Flemington's Anzac Day schedule...
Cap Ferrat set for reunion with Williams in Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The top jockey Craig Williams seeks to conclude a demanding weekend on a high note with a Group 1 win in Hong Kong, reuniting with 2025 Hong Kong Derby champion Cap Ferrat in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin come April 26.On Saturday, Williams boasts almost a...
Recon hands Carey elusive Hareeba Stakes success
Pat Carey, the hometown conditioner, has banished his Hareeba Stakes hoodoo after Recon unleashed a dazzling closing effort to take out the prize at Mornington.Carey had endured ongoing frustration in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m), pursuing a victory across several campaigns, notably second with Kelthorpe in 2006 and third via...
All Aged Stakes delivers Beiwacht's second elite victory
Hall of Fame conditioner Chris Waller's unbeaten autumn dominance in Sydney received a fitting finale from Godolphin's Beiwacht, who powered to a determined lead-all-the-way success versus a elite opposition in the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.In addition, Waller filled the first two...
Mornington Cup win gives Kings Valley direct entry to Caulfield Cup
Kings Valley, under the guidance of trainer Ciaron Maher, has clinched a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup courtesy of a gritty performance at Mornington.The Listed Mornington Cup conquest on Saturday delivers the 'Golden Ticket' access to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) scheduled for October.Maher notched his second Mornington...
Pride stable trifecta topped by Mazu in Hall Mark Stakes
At eight years old, the exceptional Mazu maintains his sharp turn of foot and zest for competition, setting the tempo wire-to-wire for his third consecutive triumph in Saturday's Group 3 $250,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).Previously, Pride's star had mastered the Hall Mark on rain-affected surfaces where he excels, but facing...
Waller's record Sydney autumn run ends with Fireball edging Champagne Stakes
Chris Waller, the celebrated Hall of Fame trainer, notched a historic Sydney Saturday Group 1 sweep as Fireball got the better of stable companion Campione D'Italia in Saturday's $1 million Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.The autumn carnival's eighth straight (and last) Sydney Saturday of Group 1 races saw Waller...
JRA Plate victory confirms Asterix at his sharpest
The win by Asterix stood out as somewhat surprising compared to Waller's earlier triumphs, given the progressive eight-year-old gelding was dispatched at $16 into the race.Having captured the New Zealand Derby four years back, Asterix lost momentum for a period before flashing his class last summer with a win in...
Strong Frank Packer Plate win boosts Matias for Queensland Derby
With a powerful victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Frank Packer Plate (2000m), Matias has positioned himself firmly in the Queensland Derby picture.Stablemate Snitzel Dancer had triumphed in the Group 3 Carr Stakes only 35 minutes beforehand.Snitzel, under Ryan's guidance, took out an Oakleigh Plate before retiring to Arrowfield Stud,...
Snitzel Dancer's stakes win opens door to Queensland Oaks campaign
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's belief in Snitzel Dancer was rewarded as the filly claimed her first stakes victory in the Group 3 $250,000 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).The trainer was puzzled by the filly's efforts in back-to-back Warwick Farm appearances that launched her season.Yet, her dominant Hawkesbury performance...