Blinkers go on Inglis Millennium winner at Randwick races
Adrian Bott says a long-range plan finally comes to fruition on Saturday when classy gelding Fully Lit returns to Randwick for the Switzerland @ Coolmore Handicap (1200m), his second outing since last winter.
The 2024 Inglis Millennium winner was purposely kept on ice after a taxing juvenile season that featured a Black Opal placing and a midfield Golden Slipper run.
“After the two-year-old campaign, it just took him a while to develop and strengthen up to where we needed him to be to make that improvement at three,” Bott said.
Early-season trials revealed he was still furnishing, so the son of Hellbent was tipped out again before reappearing on a heavy Rosehill track last month, where he boxed on for fourth.
“He had that first-up run and he was probably in need of that,” Bott said. “Second-up here he should show some improvement in his fitness.”
Blinkers are added to spark his turn of foot, and with Rachel King to ride from gate 1, the stable expects a forward showing.
Bases Loaded—back as a gelding—heads to the Civic Stakes (1400m). The Theo Marks runner-up resumes off a more traditional break this time, with Bott outlining plans to stretch him towards the mile and targets like the Winter Stakes.
French import Shamarkand also resumes over 1800 m, and Bott warns the trip may prove sharp for the Listed 2400 m winner: “He has been one-paced in his trials.”
If you fancy a wager on Fully Lit or any of the stable’s runners, check the latest markets and specials at Australia’s top online betting sites.
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