Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott out to make it three VRC St Legers in a row with smart stayer Sacramento

Adrian Bott believes Sacramento has the right profile to be a factor in the VRC St Leger Stakes but even he knows it will be about co-trainer Gai Waterhouse and her love affair with the famous Flemington race.

Just as she has made a habit of winning Golden Slippers, Gai Waterhouse has made her mark on ­another race steeped in history, the VRC St Leger.

First run in 1857, the race is a far cry from the days when Phar Lap, Tulloch and Comic Court contested it, but Waterhouse has made it her own, winning four of the past seven.

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She won with Hippopus in 2013, Order Of The Sun in 2014, Runaway in 2018 and Transact in 2019.

This year Waterhouse is tackling the 2800m race with Sacramento, who last start finished fifth in the Australian Derby at Randwick — the same formline Hippopus took into his St Leger.

Hippopus was 8½ lengths behind Dundeel when fifth in the 2400m Derby, and this month Sacramento finished the same margin behind Quick Thinker.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott said Sacramento was well placed in Saturday’s VRC St Leger at Flemington.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse has won four of the past seven VRC St Legers.

“He fits the profile of a horse to contest a race like this as he’s an out-and-out stayer,” Bott said.

“He had a nice preparation towards the Derby and I thought his run was excellent when considering the class of opposition.

“He was a stride slow to begin as he was on the back foot at the start and, as a result, we didn’t get the run we ­wanted.

“Under the circumstances he did an excellent job and he stuck on really gamely.

“He’s settled in well in ­Melbourne, where he’s run ­before, and he had a nice jumpout. He’s in good shape and should run a big race.”

Sacramento is a $6 chance with TAB.

The Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse partnership continues to reap rewards.

NEW Zealand’s Waikato Stud has retired last year’s Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth after his third in last Saturday’s All-Aged Stakes at Randwick.

Waikato principal Mark Chittick announced yesterday the stud had abandoned plans to keep the son of Dundeel ­racing because of the disruptions to programming caused by the pandemic.

RACING Victoria on Wednesday announced that the three-day Swan Hill Cup carnival would contract to a one-day meeting this year.

The nine-race program on Sunday, June 7, will be ­headlined by the $112,500 Swan Hill Cup (1600m).

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If Fifty Stars makes a full recovery, trainer David Hayes expects him to make an impact at Flemington during the spring.

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Surgery has revived the ­careers of two Lindsay Park stars, allowing trainer David Hayes to plot spring ­campaigns for Fifty Stars and Furrion.

Fifty Stars faced retirement after a knee injury, but the Australian Cup winner will now get the chance to add to his Group 1 tally.

It is a similar tale for Furrion, another of Gerry and Val Ryan’s top imports, after his recovery from a tendon injury.

“Fifty Stars had minor surgery on his knee,” Hayes said. “He’ll be ready for the spring.

“A race like the Mackinnon would be perfect ­because it’s 2000m at Flemington. He backs up very well, so he could also run the mile (Cantala Stakes) the week before.”

Fifty Stars last month proved his class and durability by landing the Australian Cup a week after he snared the Blamey Stakes.

The impeccably bred ­import was to be sent to stud if the knee problem was more ­serious, but Hayes is confident the five-year-old will be a leading player in the spring.

Furrion hasn’t raced since winning last year’s Warrnambool Cup.

“He injured his tendon this time last year and he’ll be coming in for a spring preparation,” Hayes said.

“He’s coming in in about three weeks. He’ll be on a spring campaign and we’ll see how he measures up.”

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Originally published as Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott out to make it three VRC St Legers in a row with smart stayer Sacramento