Dry track to help El Divino hit new gear
Adrian Bott is not taking his first opportunity to add to the hundreds of Group One winners produced from Tulloch Lodge for granted.
Gai Waterhouse has trained more than 130 elite level winners, following in the footsteps of her father Tommy Smith who finished his career with a record 279.
Winx’s younger half-brother El Divino and Thronum make up the stable’s two-pronged attack on the $1 million Golden Rose.
The 28-year-old Bott has the first of a raft of opportunities during spring to win his first Group One on Saturday following his promotion to co-trainer at the start of the season.
“I don’t take for granted the pressures and responsibilities that are there,” Bott said.
“But I’m really excited more than anything and that’s what’s driving us at the moment.
“The lucky position I’m in is that we’ve got a stable full of good horses going into the carnival but importantly we’ve got the right support around us.”
The stable’s trademark confidence is shared by Bott when it comes to El Divino.
He was fourth in the Run To The Rose behind Godolphin colts Astern and Impending who he will meet again at Rosehill on Saturday but that defeat hasn’t dampened Bott’s spirits.
“We certainly haven’t lost any confidence in the horse from his last start,” Bott said.
“It was a very good run in fairness to the horse.
“He stuck on well and gives every indication that he’ll run out a really strong 1400 metres.”
El Divino’s three starts have all been on wet tracks.
Bott believes he can reach an as yet unseen top gear if the Rosehill surface, rated soft on Thursday, keeps improving.
“He’s a horse with such a brilliant turn of foot and those horses you like to see them be able to use those assets on top of the ground,” Bott said.
Temperatures are set to remain in the mid-20s on Thursday and Friday but up to 10mm of rain is forecast before the Golden Rose jumps.
The stable’s other runner Thronum has excelled in heavy going but Bott believes he is more than just a wet tracker.
“I wouldn’t rule him out on top of the ground,” Bott said.
El Divino is a $15 chance to win the Golden Rose while Thronum is at $35.
Omei Sword is the $3.50 favourite while Yankee Rose has been supported throughout the week from $11 to $7.