Co-trainer Adrain Bott declares better things are in store for Wanaruah after another impressive victory at Randwick

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable continued their outstanding season of juvenile success as Wanaruah maintains his perfect record at Randwick.

Winona Costin guides Wanaruah to an easy win at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Adrian Bott described Wanaruah as a “fabulous colt” after he maintained his unbeaten record with a dominant win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Wanaruah controlled the race from the front and easily held his chasing rivals at bay to win the TAB Handicap (1400m).

Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, was effusive in his praise for Wanaruah who has now won both his starts with ease.

“For a colt, Wanaruah has a great mindset,” Bott said.

“He’s a fabulous colt and I think we saw that on debut. He was very impressive that day and I thought there was good improvement to come.

“We wanted to give him this extra run this campaign and get him out over further to assess how he went and get his rating up but there are better races for him in the spring.”

Don't mind the drift, Wanaruah controls things from the front under Winona Costin and @GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott take the first at Randwick. @racing_nsw@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/IsKCtS52XA

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 13, 2024

Wanaruah had a late rider change with Winona Costin deputising for an indisposed Adam Hyeronimus before easing in betting to $3.10 but it didn’t matter to the talented colt as he led all-the-way to win by two lengths.

Good Sort ($7) tried hard to finish second with Waterville ($13) one-and-three-quarters of a length away third.

Bartolf was backed into $3 favouritism but after appearing to have every chance in the run, he faded to finish sixth.

Verona’s Cleopatra was eased out of the race from the turn by jockey Chad Schofield who dismounted from the filly near the 250m mark when it was apparent she had suffered a serious injury.

Wanaruah is the Waterhouse-Bott stable’s 23rd individual two-year-old winner of 33 races this season.

Tulloch Lodge’s juvenile team have been a formidable force during 2023-23 netting major wins in the Golden Slipper (Lady Of Camelot), Magic Millions (Storm Boy), Inglis Millennium (Fully Lit), Golden Gift (Shangri La Express), Kindergarten Stakes (Espionage), Widden Stakes (Lady Of Camelot), Canonbury Stakes (Prost), Silver Slipper (Straight Charge), Skyline Stakes (Storm Boy) and a Breeders Plate trifecta (Espionage, Straight Charge, Prost).

So, where does Wanaruah fit in with the stable’s more high profile and proven two-year-olds?

“It’s interesting as to what level of improvement some of these young two-year-olds take in the new season,” Bott said.

“Physically Wanaruah was a little immature early in the season and has taken a bit of time to get to the races.

Wanaruah wins on debut in Race 1 at Canterbury! @GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/947UUSYVcG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 19, 2024

“But we have always felt he looked like a colt that will continue to furnish as he goes into his three-year-old season.

“There is a lot more upside with this horse and we think he will be a good miler, whether he gets 2000m I’m not sure.

“But that’s enough for this preparation and we will see where he measures up in the new season. He will have some residual fitness going into spring which will help.

Wanaruah was passed in at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale last year but has already earned over $110,000 prizemoney from his two Sydney wins.

The colt is by Arrowfield’s super sire Snitzel and is the fourth foal of his dam, Mella Maria, a Group 2 winner in South Africa.

Although Wanaruah is blessed with uncommon speed, he has some classic stamina on his dam’s side – the sire’s of his fourth and fifth dam are Shirley Heights and the great Nijinsky, both winners of the English Derby.

Costin, who has recently moved back to Sydney after spending some months in Melbourne, rated Wanaruah perfectly in front, giving the colt a breather mid-race before sprinting clear from the turn.

“I don’t know a lot about Wanaruah but he’s got a lot of class,” Costin said.

“He sprung out of the gates today, got across and got into a really good rhythm. He’s just a lovely horse, he gave me a kick and then when I asked for more of an effort at the furlong he gave it to me as well.

“He’s a lovely horse going places. He’s got a really good attitude and settles really well out there, so I think over further he’ll be even better.”

Originally published as Co-trainer Adrain Bott declares better things are in store for Wanaruah after another impressive victory at Randwick