Trainers Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott just Wana taste more 2yo success at Randwick on Saturday

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are already planning their assault on the 2025 Golden Slipper but they can continue this season’s two-year-old dominance at Randwick on Saturday.

Wanaruah wins at Canterbury on June 19. Picture: Bradley Photos

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are already planning their assault on the 2025 Golden Slipper but the trainers can continue their dominance of this season’s two-year-old racing with Wanaruah at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Wanaruah is set to make the progression from midweek to Saturday class look routine when he races in the TAB Handicap (1400m).

Bott said Wanaruah ran to expectations with his impressive debut win at Canterbury last month.

“We felt Wanaruah had trialled up well going into that Canterbury and was able to win comfortably,” Bott said.

“I think he went through the heavy at Canterbury very well and has taken some confidence from that win. He’s pleased us since and the 1400m should suit.”

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

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 19, 2024

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Wanaruah, Waterhouse and Bott’s 23rd individual two-year-old winner of 32 races this season, is the $2.20 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win again on Saturday.

Tulloch Lodge’s juvenile team have been a formidable force this season, 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).

But although next year’s Golden Slipper is still eight months away, Waterhouse and Bott covet another triumph in the world’s richest two-year-old race.

🪄 Lady of Camelot spins a magical win in the G1 TAB Golden Slipper for@GaiWaterhouse1 /Bott and @blake_shinn!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/bRVsmAwuF9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024

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Earlier this week, the Australian Turf Club compiled first nominations for the 2025 Golden Slipper, accepting 2094 entries – 1059 fillies and 1035 colts and geldings.

Waterhouse and Bott have the most entries of any stable with 159 youngsters nominated for the Golden Slipper.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings has 110 Slipper entries followed by Ciaron Maher on 98 and Chris Waller with 91.

Champion stallion I Am Invincible is represented by 96 entries followed by Snitzel with 90, Zoustar has 81 and Capitalist is next with 80.

Written Tycoon, sire of this year’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, has 73 entries.

The top 10 lots from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale have been nominated for the Golden Slipper including mighty mare Winx’s first foal, her Pierro filly that was sold to Debbie Kepitis for $10 million – a world record price for a yearling filly.

Also among Slipper entries is the I Am Invincible-Booker filly that was sold at Easter for $3 million to American billionaire John Stewart, and the Zoustar-Prompt Response filly that fetched $2.2 million when purchased by leading syndicator James Harron.

Originally published as Trainers Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott just Wana taste more 2yo success at Randwick on Saturday