Adrian Bott has no concerns about Arbeitsam's ability to change gears
Adrian Bott has no concerns about Arbeitsam’s ability to change gears as the adaptable gelding faces a stiff step up in distance at Rosehill.
Although Arbeitsam has recorded two wins and a placing in his past three starts this preparation, the four-year-old has endured a rollercoaster ride as he oscillates between 1400 and 1800 metres.
Arbeitsam backs up from a victory over the shorter distance at Rosehill on July 29 when he tackles the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m), a distance he won over at Warwick Farm a month ago.
Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said Arbeitsam was also nominated for a 1500m race on Saturday but jumping up to 1800 was preferable to lugging the top weight in a Benchmark Handicap.
“It’s not a problem for him. He’s very versatile in that sense,” Bott said.
“He’s got a high cruising speed. He’s got a turn of foot.”
Bott admitted it could be challenging asking a horse to chop and change but for Arbeitsam, who has won over 1200m and 1400m, it was not an issue.
“As you step up in trip you’re probably training the speed out of them but he’s a horse with a racing pattern through his natural speed,” he said.
“Varying distances doesn’t have as much of an effect on him.”
Bott said Arbeitsam could either step up in trip or drop back for his next assignment later this month.
“We’ll potentially look at the Premier’s Cup (1900m) or the Hawkesbury Rowley Mile,” he said.
“Dropping back to a mile after this race wouldn’t be out of the question for him because he’s the type of horse you can do it with.”
