Co-trainer Adrian Bott is banking on race fitness to give promising colts Introducing and The Instructor a vital edge in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill.
The pair tackle the race second-up after filling the placings behind Tiz Invincible over the 1100m circuit in the Rosebud and Bott says both have taken benefit from the run.
With seven of their San Domenico rivals resuming and likely to be spotting the Tulloch Lodge duo a start, that recent match practice could prove crucial.
“Introducing ran very well in the Rosebud, I like the way he’s returned and he’s open to good improvement,” Bott said.
“He’s a more mature horse mentally and physically and he ran a really nice style of race (first-up).
“The Instructor out of the same race, it was an honest effort from him first-up as well.
“He should show very good improvement off the back of that first-up run.”
Both colts have had early market support with The Instructor a $4.60 favourite, while Introducing is prominent at $6.50.
Stablemate Butch Cassidy will also take his place in the race, the Mornington maiden winner having been off the scene since finishing midfield at Sandown in April.
However, the colt did place in Listed grade on debut at Flemington earlier this year and has been ticking the right boxes in the lead-up.
“He looks in really good shape,” Bott said.
“First-up last campaign he ran an excellent race in that grade, so I think he’s up to that level and we’ve been pleased with his trials.”
The stable will have a hand in the Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) with lightly raced three-year-old Les Vampires, who atoned for his debut defeat as an odds-on favourite with a strong all-the-way win at Warwick Farm.
While he rises from midweek grade to stakes racing, Bott believes the son of Pierro has the scope to make the leap.
“He’s a recent Warwick Farm maiden winner, he won in good fashion and stepping up in trip looks to be a nice, natural progression for him,” he said.
Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse took out the Up And Coming Stakes last year with Kibou, while In The Congo delivered their most recent San Domencio win in 2021 on his way to capturing that year’s Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
