Victorian base the catalyst for Waterhouse & Bott spring success
A MOVE to open a training base at Flemington has paid dividends for the training partnership of Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse.
The training duo, which have recorded wins across both days so far in the 2017 spring carnival, recently opened stables in Melbourne, which they believe has brought about success so far at Flemington.
Our Crown Mistress was the latest to salute for the stable on Tuesday, winning the Lexus Hybrid Plate in impressive fashion.
Bott believes the move was a shrewd one for the team that typically dominates in Sydney, but does not experience the same success in Melbourne.
“The horses are racing well,” Bott told Horsebetting.com.au on Melbourne Cup Day.
“We’re very happy with the team we’ve been able to build around us here, but we specifically want to target this carnival, and now that we’re permanently based here all year round, we’ve got the facilities so that we can be down here and have a presence in Melbourne.
“We obviously hold this carnival in high regard and wanted to have a presence here and make a statement over the carnival and I think we’ve been able to do that with the right horses with the right planning and the right preparation we’ve been able to achieve the results.”
One of the horses that the Waterhouse and Bott team took down to Melbourne to target the spring was three-year-old Pinot.
The filly Pinot is the $6 second favourite at Crownbet heading into the VRC Oaks.
Adrian Bott said the horse comes into the feature as a genuine winning chance to register Gai Waterhouse’s first-ever Oaks crown.
“Pinot is in fantastic shape,” the co-trainer said.
“This was one race that Gai was really keen and intent on winning trying to win, I don’t believe she’s ever won a VRC Oaks so it’s certainly one she’s been keen to capture.”
The three-year-old filly has been a terrific galloper for the stable, winning twice and placing another two times across five career runs.
The horse peaked on October 21 when it took out the Group Three Ethereal Stakes, and Bott said the stable has always had a high opinion of the daughter of Pierro.
“She had a first barrier trial as a two-year-old, I think early on in their career they only have to show you glimpses of that natural ability.
“For her to do that at that point of her career when she shouldn’t have been able to be doing that … I think there was very positive signs around that early on.”
The VRC Oaks will be the first time Pinot has raced over the 2000m journey, but Bott believes the filly will have no issues covering the additional trip on Thursday.
“She’ll run out a very strong 2500m,” he said.
“She’s bred to get it. She’s and out-and-out stayer and we’ve been really looking forward to seeing her over that trip.
“She’s one of the ones that will certainly appreciate it.”