Speed Street returns in San Domenico
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have brought talented colt Speed Street to Sydney from their Melbourne stable to begin his spring campaign.
The training partnership has had a successful week with promising filly Pandemonium emphasising her class at Warwick Farm on Wednesday before in-form gelding Arbeitsam claimed the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury a day later.
Speed Street won and was placed twice in his first three-race preparation in Melbourne, Bott said Saturday’s Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill was a stepping stone to a southern return.
The three-year-old races for the first time since his third in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington behind the unbeaten Merchant Navy and approaches his first Sydney assignment after a solid hit-out in a Randwick barrier trial on August 8.
“He’s fresh, he’s well, he’s got some speed in his legs,” Bott said.
“At this point in his preparation he’s sharp enough to be competitive in a race like this early on.
“We thought it would a nice race to kick him off in, get him up and racing and we can look at a few targets from there.
“He’s nominated for the Caulfield Guineas. No doubt he’s a horse that’s going improve getting over a little bit further. He’s bred to get further.
“Up to the mile is probably going to be his ultimate trip.”
Speed Street was also marked down for a barrier trial on Monday but the quality of his work convinced Waterhouse and Bott to put him in against Group company.
“I like what he showed us last preparation. No doubt there’s some stiff competition there but he deserves his place,” Bott said.
Bott offered mitigating factors for Speed Street crossing five lengths adrift of Merchant Navy on Anzac Day, a setback after his debut at Moonee Valley and maiden win at Bendigo.
“He slipped badly on jumping and never quite got into the race. He stuck on alright but it wasn’t the same horse that we saw in his first two starts.”