Adrian Bott predicts big things with Gai Waterhouse partnership as he celebrates first stakes winner

GAI Waterhouse’s new co-trainer Adrian Bott feels Rosebud winner Thronum is just the tip of the iceberg as the stable prepares to unleash a host of promising three-year-olds.

El Divino (green and yellow checks) and Blake Shinn deadheat with Astern on the opening day of The Championships in April. Picture: Jenny Evans

GAI Waterhouse’s new co-trainer Adrian Bott feels Rosebud winner Thronum is just the tip of the iceberg as the stable prepares to unleash a host of promising three-year-olds in coming weeks.

Bott was thrust into the spotlight on Saturday when Thronum became the first stakes winner for the new training partnership.

“It was a huge thrill and huge relief,” Bott told Radio TAB’s Past The Post on Sunday.

“You don’t underestimate the pressure or the responsibility involved. That’s a challenging aspect of the role. I like to thrive on that challenge.

It was a huge thrill and huge relief. To have the support of someone like Gai and with the history around the stable, it’s really exciting.

- co-trainer Adrian Bott

“To have the support of someone like Gai and with the history around the stable, it’s really exciting.”

Thronum is rated a $15 chance for next month’s Golden Rose, with Winx’s half-brother El Divino the No. 1 seed for the stable.

“He is one of our top colts going into the carnival, Bott said of El Divino, who matched strides with Golden Slipper winner Capitalist in a Randwick trial on July 29.

“He’s a Group 1 colt in our eyes and I’m looking forward to him getting up and going.

“He will most likely resume in the Run to the Rose and then second up into the Golden Rose.

“The Golden Rose is the main target and that will give us a good indication of where to next for him and what targets to identify in Melbourne.”

Bott also mentioned Queensland-owned and bred Evacuation, whose lone start produced a four-lengths win at Kembla Grange.

Thronum and Tommy Berry take out the opening event at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jenny Evans

“He’s a colt bred and owned by Ron Gilbert of Highgrove Stud,” he said.

“He won very impressively (on debut) and he’s come back much bigger and stronger.”

Kembla 6½-length January winner Global Glamour has also been earmarked for spring riches and is due to trial in the next few weeks.

Juvenile Group winners Thyme For Roses and Scarlet Rain and stakes-placed Prompt Response are others in the Waterhouse-Bott spring three-year-old arsenal.

“If that all falls into place, hopefully it will be an exciting spring,” Bott said.

Now 28, Bott has spent the past four years with Waterhouse, before which he was a graduate of the two-year Darley Flying Start program, which followed a stint as a cadet steward with Racing NSW.

Originally published as Adrian Bott predicts big things with Gai Waterhouse partnership as he celebrates first stakes winner