Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott eye off feature double with imported pair Poptronic and Royal Patronage at Randwick

She was purchased at the same sale as multiple Group 1-winner Via Sistina ... now new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are ready to unveil Yulong’s latest spring contender.

Gai Waterhouse (pictured) has two talented imports making their Australian race debut at Randwick on Saturday.

Gai Waterhouse is relying on a mystery British mare and a northern hemisphere globetrotter to claim a feature race double at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Poptronic, a Group 1 winner at England’s famous Ascot racecourse, makes her long-awaited Australian debut in the Group 2 $300,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).

Royal Patronage, who has won stakes races in England and America, is also having his first down under start in the Group 2 $300,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m).

Waterhouse has ambitious plans for the well-credentialled imported duo this spring and expects them both to sprint well fresh.

Poptronic, a six-year-old mare by Enable’s sire Nathaniel, Poptronic won five of her 13 starts in England including the Group 1 Champions Fillies and Mares at Ascot last October.

Top performance from POPTRONIC in the QIPCO British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes at #Ascot, holding on from the head of affairs to beat BLUESTOCKING and JACKIE OH 🏆 well done to Sam James, @karl_burke and David & Yvonne Blunt 🥇 pic.twitter.com/OUxAk5BS96

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) October 21, 2023

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Yulong then purchased Poptronic at the famous Tattersall’s Sale last December and sent her down under with top mares Via Sistina and Place Du Carrousel.

But Poptronic was spelling in the autumn as Via Sistina and Place Du Carrousel ran the quinella in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes.

Via Sistina won another Group 1 in the Winx Stakes when resuming last month and is early favourite for the Cox Plate while Place Du Carrousel is being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Poptronic finally gets the chance to show her wares in the Chelmsford Stakes where she is rated a $14 chance in early TAB fixed odds betting behind Godolphin’s Zardozi at $2.15 favourite.

Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, said Poptronic took a while to settle in when she first arrived in Australia but the mare is pleasing the stable this preparation including a recent Hawkesbury barrier trial effort when second to My Oberon.

“Poptronic is a lovely mare,” Waterhouse said.

“We are very excited to be training her for Yulong. She was bought for the major Cups and we are setting her for those races.”

Yulong Australia supremo Vin Cox described Poptronic as a “staying proposition” who is being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups this spring.

“Poptronic came out the same time as Via Sistina and Place Du Carrousel but didn’t really come up in her first campaign here,” Cox said.

“We put her away, gave her extra time, and she seems to be trialling a lot better and doing much better this time in so we are hopeful she can find her best form in the spring.

Trainer @GrahamMotion had #11 Royal Patronage ready to go off the layoff! 👑

With Joel Rosario aboard, the 4-year-old colt takes R7 at Keeneland. 🏇#TwinSpiresReplaypic.twitter.com/q0yxiEEgzG

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 20, 2023

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“We do have lofty ambitions for her, we concede that, but you wouldn’t be in racing if you didn’t have aspirations.”

Waterhouse, who also has Just Fine ($9) and Military Mission ($21) in the Chelmsford, is chasing her fourth win in the weight-for-age race after her previous successes with Knights Order (2022), Theseo (2010) and Juggler (1997).

But the Hall of Famer trainer’s Chelmsford record pales into comparison with her late father, Tommy Smith, who won the race 16 times with champions like Kingston Town (1980-81), Gunsynd (1970) and Tulloch (1960).

Smith’s Chelmsford wins stand as a national training record for a Group-class race.

Waterhouse is excited to be sending Royal Patronage to races for the first time in the Tramway Stakes.

Royal Patronage won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket in England and also competed at a high level in America, winning at Keeneland, but he is having his first start in 14 months at Randwick.

“We have given Royal Patronage the time he needed and he’s thriving this time in work,” Waterhouse said.

“He’s a beautiful horse with loads of talent. He’s nominated for all the big races this spring.”

Royal Patronage is rated at $13 in latest Tramway betting behind top mare Amelia’s Jewel at $2.60 favourite.

Originally published as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott eye off feature double with imported pair Poptronic and Royal Patronage at Randwick