Tulloch Lodge co-trainer Adrian Bott will head to Wyong’s biggest day of the season looking for a Central Coast feature double with frontrunners Grove Ferry and Riduna on Friday.
Grove Ferry will face an armada of rivals from the Chris Waller stable in the Wyong Cup but should be suited by the track and trip.
Adrian Bott gives Converge a pat in his box.Credit:Nick Moir
“They are both horses we think we will get a win at stakes level,” Bott said. “Grove Ferry has been good in his couple of runs since coming back from Grafton.
“We had the option of going to 2400m at Randwick, but we think the 2100m and the tight track at Wyong will be more in his favour.
“He is a horse that will make his own luck and is very fit and will be hard to run down.”
The best judge of speed in Sydney racing, Tim Clark, takes the reins on Grove Ferry, which is a $4.40 second favourite behind $2.80 top pick Lord Ardmore, which is one of seven acceptors from the Waller yard in the 11-horse field.
Several cup runners are also in the City Tattersalls Cup field at Randwick on Saturday, so there are expected to be scratchings.
Bott believes the Mona Lisa Stakes has come at the right time for Riduna after her powerful win at Rosehill three weeks ago. The daughter of Fastnet Rock has been to stakes level before and missed a place on three occasions but appears to be getting stronger with time.
“We have always thought she would get to this sort of company,” Bott said.
“Under the conditions, she gets on the limit and gets her chance to get some black type. Rachel [King] gets on with her well, and I think she should be able to get across for the wide gate and really test them.”
Tulloch Lodge lost Up And Coming Stakes winner Kibou to injury for the spring during the week but welcomes back two-time group 1 winner Converge in Saturday’s Tramway Stakes.
“It is a good starting point for him at 1400m, but, as we have seen, he is a horse that gets better with every run; he will be improved by the outing, but he’s not out of the race,” Bott said.
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