Golden Rose 2016: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott on the hunt for Group 1 glory at Rosehill

PODCAST: IT was a few months ago when Gai Waterhouse summoned stable foreman Adrian Bott to her office — and what happened next floored the young horseman.

IT was a few months ago when Gai Waterhouse summoned stable foreman Adrian Bott to her office — and what happened next floored the young horseman.

Bott thought the meeting had been called to discuss race programs and the next morning’s trackwork gallops, but when Waterhouse asked him to consider forming a training partnership he didn’t know what to think.

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“I was really taken aback by it — I wasn’t sure if Gai was serious at first and I was trying to get my head around it,’’ Bott said. “But Gai explained everything and it ignited the fire in me to be a trainer.’’

Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse will two runners in Saturday’s Golden Rose at Rosehill. Picture: Mark Evans

The realisation had already dawned on Waterhouse that she needed to secure the future of her famous Tulloch Lodge stables.

Waterhouse’s two children were not going to be trainers. Son Tom is carving a niche for himself in the corporate bookmaking business and daughter Kate is enjoying a successful media and modelling career.

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Bott had already worked beside the Hall of Fame trainer for four years and the pair had developed a close professional relationship.

Waterhouse said forming a partnership was something she had been thinking about for some years.

“But I had to find the right person and Adrian is exactly the right person,’’ she said. “He has an open nature, gets on with the job, is eager to learn and is receptive, which is so important.

I’m determined to make a success of this partnership and it won’t fall short from the lack of hard work and dedication.

- Adrian Bott

“Adrian understands me and my training methods. It is a comfortable fit.’’

The trainer said the partnership had given her a “new lease on life”.

“I feel rejuvenated,’’ she said. “Adrian takes some of the pressure off me and I love having young people around me because they are enthusiastic and have fresh ideas.’’

It didn’t take long for Bott to accept the offer and any apprehension was soon replaced by excitement when he became Waterhouse’s training partner from August 1.

“Racing has always grabbed me and deep down this is all I have ever wanted to do, but it is not an easy road to take,’’ Bott said. “There is a lot of hard work and a lot of luck involved, but to get this opportunity from Gai and have that support made the decision easier as I can throw everything at it.

Gai Waterhouse says Adrian Bott helps take the pressure off. Picture: Mark Evans

“I’m determined to make a success of this partnership and it won’t fall short from the lack of hard work and dedication.’’

So, just a few weeks after the partnership became official, the Waterhouse-Bott combination has its first Group 1 runners when El Divino and Thronum contest the $1 million De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Bott admits to feeling a little nervous on the eve of his debut on racing’s big stage.

“Once we get into the mounting yard the palms will be a little sweaty,’’ he said. “But it will be more excitement than anything and I’m honoured to have a couple of outstanding colts representing the stable that are genuine chances.’’

Waterhouse has trained 135 Group 1 winners during her celebrated 24-year career but, like Bott, she’s chasing a first on Saturday. The Golden Rose is one of the few majors to elude racing’s first lady but she has trained three runners-up — Al Maher (2004), Squamosa (2010) and Speak Fondly (2015). El Divino ($15) is rated the best of the Tulloch Lodge duo, while Thronum is at $35 in early TAB Fixed Odds.

Waterhouse thinks both colts are “very good chances”.

“El Divino is the most competitive horse I have trained outside of Pierro,’’ Waterhouse said. “He is a very promising colt and I liked the way he got going late in the Run To The Rose (fourth behind Astern). Thronum has won three out of five and is a good, honest colt.’’

Bott described Thronum as “something of a forgotten horse” going into the Golden Rose.

“Thronum has done nothing wrong, he is a fit horse and keeps running well every occasion,” he said. “He produced a very honest effort last start and is in great order.”

But there is no doubt the stable expects El Divino, a half-brother to champion mare Winx, to be very competitive in the big race.

“We have always had a huge opinion of El Divino,’’ Bott said. “He has to improve on his first-up run but we feel he has made the necessary improvement.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will chase their first group 1 winner as a partnership at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans

“He was left a little flat-footed at the top of the straight and that was partly due to the (soft) going. I don’t think he was quite as confident in those conditions to let down and show his explosive turn of foot.

“We were very pleased to see the way he stuck on to run fourth and the way he was working back into the race over the last 50m or so. The step up in distance is suitable and he has taken improvement from that run.”

Despite her extraordinary success over the years, Waterhouse is always trying to improve the stable’s systems and encourages Bott to offer his ideas.

Bott, who turned 29 last Friday and shares his birthday with Waterhouse, admits he is still a little reticent to be too forceful with his opinions.

“One of the great things about Gai is she is very open to trying new things,’’ he said. “She is always thinking outside the square and we have a lot of discussions about different ideas. It is not a closed shop.

“But Gai has the knowledge and experience and that is what I like to draw on. The majority of what I have learned about training has been from her.

“It would be very naive of me if I thought I was going to come in and try to teach Gai Waterhouse about how to train a racehorse.’’