Adrian Bott expects Adam Hyeronimus to ride one of the stable’s two-year-old cavalry in the Golden Slipper, insisting the group 1-winning jockey remains a huge part of the team despite losing the ride on Storm Boy.
Hyeronimus, who steered the colt to a stunning Magic Millions win before Coolmore bought a controlling stake in a deal which could rise to more than $50 million, has picked up the ride on Blue Diamond favourite Lady Of Camelot.
James McDonald rode Storm Boy in a winning Rosehill barrier trial on Thursday and is poised to partner the colt in the Skyline Stakes.
“I spoke to Adam earlier in the week and he was the first to know before anything happened,” said Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse.
“I think everyone understood that’s how the deals work and when the deal was being done, that was always going to be an element. He’s aware of those factors.
“Adam’s been great and he’s still going to be a big part of the team and our horses’ preparations. Adam has been that way for a number of years.
Golden Slipper favourite Storm Boy has been sold to Coolmore.Credit: Getty
“He’s always done plenty of work behind the scenes and helped prepare high-profile horses for us. Adam will continue to get opportunities. He’ll be riding something for us in the Slipper, and he’s down to ride Lady Of Camelot in the Blue Diamond.
“To have the opportunity to win the Magic Millions was one of his biggest successes. He’s made unbelievable progress since he’s been back, and he’s going to continue to do that.”
McDonald barely had Storm Boy out of second gear as he surged to a more than six-length win in a trial, his first public appearance since the Gold Coast. It was McDonald’s first morning back at the trials after suffering a foot injury almost a fortnight ago.
Storm Boy remains a $3 favourite for the Golden Slipper with Sportsbet.
“His work into it was very pleasing so we were expecting to him trial well,” Bott said. “That should just bring him on nicely for his run in the Skyline.
“He came through the Gold Coast in good order and he was nice and switched on [in the trial].”
Tulloch Lodge will take another step towards winning the two-year-old majors in coming weeks when Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express resumes in the Pierro Plate at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Alabama Express colt ($2.30) was challenging smart debut winner Switzerland ($1.90) for favouritism, and both horses are in the top four for Golden Slipper betting.
“He’s got the benefit of race experience with that preparation and he looks to have come back bigger and more mature this time around,” Bott said.
“I think he will continue to improve throughout the preparation. He’ll be third-up in the Golden Slipper with the potential to race on through the Sires and Champagne.”
But with an embarrassment of riches heading towards the Golden Slipper, how has the stable plotted the various paths to the world’s richest two-year-old race?
“Every horse is on their correct path and there’s no doubt some of them will be meeting at certain stages,” Bott said.
“They’ve just got to go through the right path to give them the best chance of winning races on the way through with a chance to peak on the big day.”
Parker hoping to trump Waller’s aces
It’s Waller’s world, but can Kerry Parker upset it?
In a scene very familiar during the 13-time champion Sydney trainer’s reign, Chris Waller will boast an almost unbeatable hand in the Apollo Stakes, the first of the major weight-for-age races of the Sydney autumn carnival.
In fact, he has four of the top five in betting for the group 2 race at Royal Randwick on Saturday – and only the Kembla Grange-trained Think It Over breaks up the Waller quartet in most markets.
That’s not to say it can’t be done.
Think It Over will be aimed towards the Queen Elizabeth Stakes again.Credit: Getty
Think It Over, an eight-year-old who has fought back from a career-threatening injury, has proven to be more than an upset merchant throughout his career.
Highlighted by his $41 win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes almost two years ago, when Nash Rawiller plotted a daring course towards the outside fence, no horse in the Apollo Stakes field has a better return on investment for punters than Think It Over.
“I’ll be standing in line at the post office and someone will tell me they backed him in this race or got the quinella in that race,” Parker said. “Especially down here. In Wollongong, he’s got a lot of support. He’s done a lot of people a lot of favours.”
But he won’t be doing Waller any favours in the Apollo Stakes.
The Hall of Fame trainer will saddle up Fangirl ($2.30), Militarize ($4.60), import Buckaroo ($7) and Lindermann ($9) in the Apollo Stakes. Think It Over ($7) is the only other horse in single figures in betting.
Think About It scooped the 7 Stakes by beating Zaaki home last preparation, and Parker knows there could be more to come from the grand campaigner in the twilight of his career.
“He’s going terrific,” Parker said. “He had a couple of trials leading into it and I expect him to turn up and race well.
“He doesn’t know his age, so we’ll just push on. It’s there in the back of my mind thinking, ‘I don’t know how long he can keep going’. But he’s going well.
“Whether he’s going to be as sharp as he’s used to, I’m not sure. But he’s always been good first-up.
“With the injury we had before, every preparation is crucial. But he’s 100 per cent sound and going great. That’s all I’m doing. I’m taking every run as it comes.
“If he can still be competitive at the top level, which he showed last preparation, that’s as far as I’m going with it.”
Having missed his Queen Elizabeth Stakes defence last preparation, Think It Over is bound for the weight-for-age finale of The Championships this year – provided he can maintain form and fitness.
“That’s his aim this preparation,” Parker said. “He will have his four starts in Sydney and head towards that.”
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
