North England Bott's best fit to 3rd Slipper
SYDNEY Five years after tasting Golden Slipper success for the first time with Farnan, Adrian Bott is hoping history can repeat as he prepares to saddle up two of the young stallion's sons in the world's richest 2YO race on March 22.
Farnan is the sire of Tulloch Lodge colts North England and Farcited, who with Zousain filly Bellazaine form Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse's three-pronged assault in the A$5 million (S$4.22 million) Group 1 Golden Slipper (1,200m) at Rosehill.
"He's got three in the Slipper, two for us, so it's a good effort for him in his first season and a good sign of what is to come from them," said Bott, who notched his second Golden Slipper with Lady Of Camelot last year.
North England, who has drawn barrier No. 9, staked his Golden Slipper claims early in the season with a solid third to ill-fated stablemate King Kirk in the Breeders' Plate (1,000m) on Oct 5 and a tough victory in the Golden Gift (1,100m) on Nov 9.
Waterhouse and Bott had planned to give North England two starts heading into Saturday's showpiece but his build-up was interrupted when he was scratched from the Silver Slipper due to an irregular blood count.
He did get a run when a fighting fifth in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1,200m) on March 8.
While Bott admitted they had to adjust his training schedule, he also felt they have had the necessary time to compensate for the missed Silver Slipper run.
"We haven't had to change too much. We knew the adjustments we were going to have to make in terms of the programme," said the Australian handler. "It was more changing our expectations in the lead-up and what to expect with the end result.
"But in saying that, we've been able to get him to where he needs to be now. We just needed that bit of extra time to get him there."
Farcited snuck into one of the "Big Four" of Australian racing's Grand Slam (the other three are the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate) courtesy of a high attrition race at acceptance time.
While his main goal is the Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1,400m) on April 5, Bott can make a case for him to run well.
The youngster was touched out by Slipper rival King Of Pop, another son of Farnan, in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1,200m) at Canberra on March 9. Bott felt he was left vulnerable late after leading.
With Farcited drawn in barrier No. 17, Bott hinted he could be ridden more conservatively pending their assessment of the speed map.
"We always looked at a Sires' campaign with him and had it been a nose finish the other way in the Black Opal we would have been preparing for this race," he said.
"As it worked out, the way the field fell, it's a really good target race for those horses going through their preparations towards the Sires'. He is a big chance to run a big race as well."
Bellazaine also drew wide in 15 but the stable plans to utilise the Group placegetter's speed.
"She is one who will push forward," said Bott. "We're not concerned by that draw with her, she has got the speed to offset that. We've seen her absorb and handle pressure in her races."
Should any of the trio come up trumps, it will crown Bott for a third time, but better Waterhouse's record to nine.
The Randwick duo have booked Tim Clark, Josh Parr and Regan Bayliss on North England, Farcited and Bellazaine respectively. SKY RACING WORLD
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