Waterhouse and Bott chasing another record

By Glenn Davis

The training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott is hoping for its best ever haul of Group and Listed winners in a season at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Waterhouse and Bott combination notched up its 35th Group or Listed winner this season on June 14 when Campaldino won the Group 2 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm and Sir Lucan claimed the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill.

It equaled the training duo’s previous haul of 35 Group or Listed winners in season 2023-24.

The pair will set a new milestone if they can claim victory in one of the several stakes races to be run at Eagle Farm.

“Our main goal each year is to keep improving and winning stakes races is a good indication of how we’re performing,” co-trainer Bott said.

“We’ve got a few running in Brisbane so hopefully we can have a bit of luck and win another stakes race.”

Imported stayer Sir Lucan is one of the stable’s main hopes of setting a new benchmark when the gelding tackles the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup over 2400 metres.

Sir Lucan etched his name in NSW racing history last start by becoming the first horse since Royal Bark in 1962-63 to win back-to-back Winter Cups at Rosehill.

“It was an excellent win but he’s the type of horse that needs things to fall his way,” co-trainer Bott said.

The Winter Cup triumph followed the rising eight-year-old’s effort when he tailed the field on a heavy track in the Lord Mayors Cup over 2000 metres at Rosehill.

“He can handle heavy tracks, but he copped interference at the start in the Lord Mayors Cup and the distance didn’t suit him as he was first-up,” Bott said

Sir Lucan arrived in Queensland last week and has settled in well in his new surroundings ahead of his Tattersall’s Cup quest.

“He’s settled in great after we sent him north straight after his last win,” co-trainer Bott said.

“He can be a bit tricky, but he’s taken a lot of confidence from his Winter Cup win and should be very competitive again.”

As well as Sir Lucan, Waterhouse and Bott can also smash their season record with The Novelist in the Group 3 Healy Stakes while Osmose and Pulchritudinous will tackle the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown.

Duke Of Arrakis is another stable hope in the Listed Tattersall’s Stakes.