Bear set to let Loose in 2025 Caloundra Cup

Bear On The Loose returns to 2400m for Saturday’s Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast, aiming to go one better after a brave runner-up finish in the Winter Cup.

The Tulloch Lodge gelding gave a bold sight on pace last start, only fading late behind his stablemate Sir Lucan in his staying test debut.

Adrian Bott is confident the gelding will thrive again at the journey and sees Saturday as a big opportunity.

“For his first attempt at the trip, his run was excellent,” Bott said.

“There were questions over whether he could get the trip and I think he relishes it. He ran it out very strongly.

“He was there for a long way and it took a horse who’d had a better run in transit and had the sit on him to run him down. He was unlucky to get beaten.”

Bear On The Loose bypassed Sydney’s McKell Cup and Stayer’s Cup to enjoy a freshen-up ahead of the Listed assignment in Queensland.

The stable also saddles up The Three Hundred in the Winx Guineas (1600m), with Bott expecting improvement from the colt following a luckless run at Ipswich.

“He missed the start and got too far back. The tight track, he didn’t really appreciate, and from where he was it was always going to be difficult,” Bott noted.

“But the last furlong of his race was pretty good.

“The 1600 will suit. Hopefully he breaks cleanly, puts himself in the race and he will be much more effective.”

Any black-type success at the Sunshine Coast would only enhance what has already been a record-breaking term for the Waterhouse-Bott team.

“If we’re trying to find areas to focus on to improve each season, stakes wins is what we all strive for so I guess that’s a good indicator for us and we’ll try to keep topping it again next year,” Bott added.

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