A stayer who has proven competitive at the highest level and another hoping to eventually tick that box will go head-to-head for Tulloch Lodge in the Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick.
Dual Group 1 placegetter Vauban and the lightly raced Elamaz are both relatively recent additions to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team, only kicking off for the yard this year.
Elamaz posted an impressive win in the Listed McKell Cup (2000m) at his stable debut in June, while Vauban won at Group 3 level in the autumn before placing in the Tancred Stakes (2400m) behind UK raider Dubai Honour.
The latter has a run on the board this campaign after resuming with a gritty third to Lindermann in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) when he stuck on well after racing handier to the speed than anticipated.
“He was sharper than I expected over the mile and the 2000 metres is much better for him,” Bott said.
“It’s a distance we’ve seen him effective over last preparation. He looks to have trained on well and he goes there in good order.”
Elamaz hasn’t raced since the McKell Cup but has tuned up for his return with two trials.
Yet to finish further back than second in eight starts, the former French galloper is still somewhat of an unknown quantity to punters and his trainers, with Bott hoping to glean more insight from his Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) performance this weekend.
“Elamaz, we’re continuing to learn more about him but he was excellent at his first and only start here in Australia,” Bott said.
“He’s got to take another step up from winter stakes company through to the carnival stakes races here but he seems to be improving nicely.
“His trials are good so we will learn a bit more on Saturday about what his path and future look like for the preparation.”
The stable’s go-to Sydney rider, Tim Clark, partners Vauban while James McDonald links with Elamaz.
Bott says the former appeals as their No. 1 seed given he has the form on the board but he is excited to see what Elamaz might produce.
“Vauban is proven and has got the class at this stage,” Bott said.
“He’s had the benefit of having had the run and a bit more conditioning but Elamaz is still a lovely horse for us going forward.”
