Juvenile watch: Who's the pick of the seven Waterhouse Bott trial winners?

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Tulloch Lodge has long been one of the best-performing 2-year-old stables in the country. Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse has won the world’s richest race for juveniles - the G1 Golden Slipper S. - seven times, once with partner Adrian Bott.

Last season, the stable didn’t get its hands on one of the five 2-year-old Group 1s, but it did enjoy stakes success on seven occasions; Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) took out the G3 Gimcrack S., The Novelist (Written By) won the G3 BJ McLachlan S., The Instructor (Russian Revolution) claimed the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings), the G3 Canonbury S. was won by Red Resistance (Russian Revolution), Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun) landed the G3 Black Opal S., Zia (Zoustar) scored in the Listed Bill Carter S. and Azula (Maurice {Jpn}) triumphed in the Listed The Phoenix.

Gallery: Some of the great 2-year-old successors this year for Tulloch Lodge, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Tulloch Lodge was once again very active at the yearling sales and signed for two of the 10 most expensive lots in 2023. Those horses were not seen at the Randwick-Kensington trials on Monday, but Waterhouse-Bott did send 13 juveniles out for their first trial. Remarkably, seven of them won, while the remaining six placed second.

“We’ve got a good crop of 2-year-olds,” Bott told TTR AusNZ.

“It was pleasing to see, they had a nice foundation going into their trials.

“There’s still plenty of nice ones to progress forward with.”

Waterhouse-Bott will send another two juveniles around at the Randwick trials on Friday, as the team looks to confirm which runners will contest the G3 Gimcrack S. and the G3 Breeders’ Plate on Saturday week.

Straight Charge (Written By x Matryoshka {I Am Invincible})

This colt was bought for $270,000 by Yulong Investments from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is from a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Listed-producing sire Winning Rupert and the Group 3 victress Tycoon Evie (Written Tycoon).

Straight Charge won Heat 1 on Monday by 0.97l under Zac Lloyd.

“He did well and ran good time. He responded well under pressure,” said Bott.

“He’s a nice colt and is a chance to head to the Breeders’ Plate.”

Prost (Snitzel x Samarmeteors {Northern Meteor})

Kia Ora Stud/TFI/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing paid $650,000 for this colt from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is from a half-sister to the Group 1 heroine and Group 1-producer Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}) - the dam of the Group 3 winner Exhilarates (Snitzel) and the G1 Golden Slipper hero Shinzo (Snitzel).

Prost finished second in Heat 3, 0.18l behind Fearless (Pierata).

“He’s a professional type and looks a real 2-year-old to me,” Bott said.

“He is likely to push on to the Breeders’.”

Espionage (Zoustar x In Times Of War {Street Cry {Ire}})

Baramul Stud offered this colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership went to $1 million. The colt is from a three-time winner and his grandam is the former top filly/mare Military Rose (General Nediym), who triumphed in Group 2 company.

Espionage looked good in winning Heat 7 by 0.23l under Adam Hyeronimus.

“He’s a very talented colt and could run in the Breeders’ Plate,” Bott commented.

“His trial was good, he didn’t necessarily have things go his own way. He was able to overcome that and still put in a strong trial performance.”

Fortians (Deep Field x Pomposity {Stratum})

This colt was offered by Highgrove Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds going to $300,000 for him. Fortians is out of a sister to the Group 2 victress Attention (Stratum) and the stakes performer Flamboyant Lass (Stratum).

The colt finished second, 2.38l behind Volatile (Snitzel), in Heat 11.

“He did a good job and has come through it well. We may just wait a few weeks with him,” Bott explained.

Gravitas (Capitalist x Rare Insight {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})

James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership paid $130,000 for this colt from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. From a Group 2 winner, he is a half-brother to the Group 1 heroine Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). His page features a host of stakes winners, including Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), Espiona (Extreme Choice) and Vision And Power (Carnegie {Ire}).

Gravitas finished second, 1.17l behind Highness (Snitzel), in Heat 5.

“He was good, he’s probably one of the big improvers to come from Monday,” Bott said.

“We may look at a couple of options in Melbourne for him.”

Celestial Bling (Capitalist x Starry {Exceed And Excel})

Newgate Farm consigned this filly at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Trilogy Racing/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing paying $300,000 for him. The filly is out of a 900-metre winner, who is a sister to the stakes performer Chicago Bull and a half-sister to the Group 2-winning 2-year-old Zululand, who stands at Grenville Stud in Tasmania.

With Hyeronimus in the saddle, Celestial Bling won Heat 4 by 0.44l.

“She was good, she did everything right and trialled in a professional manner,” said Bott.

“She deserves her chance to push on.”

Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon x Miss Debutante {Fastnet Rock})

A homebred for Go Bloodstock, this filly is beautifully bred, being from a Listed winner who has thrown the Group 3 scorers Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) and Platinum Jubilee.

Lady Of Camelot made all in Heat 2 under Brett Prebble, prevailing by 3.9l.

“One of the more explosive trials on the day was that of Lady Of Camelot. She looked an out and out 2-year-old, which is what we’ve come to expect from that family,” Bott remarked.

“She’ll push on.”

Gerringong (Blue Point {Ire} x This Time Bridie {More Than Ready {USA}})

This filly is bred and raced by John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud. She is out of an unraced sister to the 2013 G3 Up And Coming S. winner War, a blood-sister to the stakes performer Happy Hannah, a three-quarter sister to the multiple Group 1 victress More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}), and a half-sister to the Group 1 scorer Fenway (High Chaparral {Ire}) - the dam of the Group 3 winner Williamsburg (Snitzel).

Gerringong claimed Heat 10 by 0.4l under Rachel King.

“She’s got a stack of improvement going forward,” said Bott.

“She’s a very nice filly, pretty tough; I like the way she responded in her trial.

“We’ve got a few Blue Points. They’re really nice horses and we physically liked a number of them at the yearling sales. From what we’ve seen so far, they’re measuring up to those early indications.”

Lady Tassort (Tassort x Ice Cream Lady {Not A Single Doubt})

RedFox Thoroughbreds’ Tracey Rook went to $40,000 for the filly, who was bred and offered by Bell River Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. The filly is from a winner at two and is closely related to the stakes performer Zeda Mak (Zeditave).

With Regan Bayliss in the saddle, Lady Tassort claimed Heat 6 by 1.91l.

“She was excellent, she showed good speed, and sustained speed. She really kept building through the line,” Bott commented.

“She looked a very fast type and should be heading to the Gimcrack.

“She’s the only Tassort we have.

“She’s always been very precocious.”

Shivermepink (Zoustar x Pretty In Pink {Sebring})

Consigned by Segenhoe Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds paid $520,000 for this filly. She is the first foal of a Listed winner and his second dam is the stakes performer Total Attraction (Nadeem).

Shivermepink finished second behind Lady Tassort.

“She was chasing that speed. She did a good job,” Bott said.

“She’s one we may wait a few weeks with, or we may look to give her a little bit of time; she’s probably just a preparation away.”

Runaway Vixen (Zoustar x Fox Swift {Foxwedge)

Bennett Racing/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing signed for this filly for $370,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly is the second foal of a Listed winner and is closely related to the stakes scorers White Moss (Mossman) and White Sage (Reset).

Guided by King, Runaway Vixen won Heat 8 by 1.16l.

“She’s been turned out. She did a good job to get to where she was, but we will give her a bit of time,” Bott remarked.

Zoubelle (Zoustar x Itza Snitzi {Snitzel})

A List Stud consigned this filly at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. She was knocked down to McKeever Bloodstock for $130,000. She is from a winless mare and is closely related to the stakes winners Lucky Diva (Perugino {USA}) and Gina Lollawitcha (Perugino {USA}), among others.

With Bayliss in the saddle, Zoubelle placed second behind Runaway Vixen.

“We may look to give her a little bit of time. She’s got good upside and will improve a lot, but maybe a prep away,” Bott explained.

Alinea (Written Tycoon x Serena Bay {Sebring})

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds forked out $420,000 for this filly, who was offered by Edinburgh Park at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the third foal of a stakes performer and is a half-sister to the R. Listed placegetter Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel).

Alinea was partnered by Hyeronimus and she finished second in Heat 12, 2.68l behind Invincible Madison (I Am Invincible).

“We may look to trial her again. She’s really come a long way this campaign,” he said.

“She’s a nice style of filly and just keeps improving.”

Kaluakoi (Zoustar x Fantasy Gal {USA} {In Excessive Bull {USA}})

Sutton Park Racing own this colt, who was passed in at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. From a Listed scorer in the US, the colt is a brother to the Listed placegetter Palani.

Nash Rawiller will partner Kaluakoi in Heat 11 on Friday.

“He’s a nice style of Zoustar colt. He’s still a bit raw, but he’s come a long way this prep,” said Bott.

“We’ll see which way he goes after the trial.

“He’s a nice horse, going forward.”

Sovereign Hill (Written Tycoon x Taraji {Bramshaw})

Silverdale Farm offered this colt at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was bought by Yu Long Investments/Waterhouse & Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $280,000. The colt is from a winning half-sister to the Group 1 hero Music Magnate (Written Tycoon).

Hyeronimus has been booked to ride Sovereign Hill in Heat 11 on Friday.

“He’s also a nice style of horse,” Bott said.

“He’s done a good job and will improve nicely off the back of Friday’s trial.”

Unnamed (Zoustar x Solar Charged {Charge Forward})

The most expensive filly sold in Australia in 2023, this daughter of Zoustar is a sister to the multiple Group 1 heroine Sunlight and the Group 3 winner Sisstar. Yulong Investments went to $2.6 million for her from the Widden Stud consignment at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“She’s had a nice prep and looks very natural in everything she does,” explained Bott.

“She’s had a couple of campaigns and is due back in the stable very shortly.

“I’d say we would see her before Christmas.”

Unnamed (Exceed And Excel x Ichihara {General Nediym})

Corumbene Stud bred and offered this colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was purchased for $1.8 million by Kia Ora Stud/TFI. The colt is the fifth living foal of a Group 2 winner who is a sister to the stakes winners Au Chocolat and Isurava, the dam of the Group 2 scorer Menari. The colt is a half-brother to last year’s G3 Breeders’ Plate winner Empire Of Japan (Snitzel).

“He’s had a few campaigns. He’s due back in the stable shortly and we’ll be trying to get him produced towards the end of the year and see whether he can develop into a Magic Millions type,” said Bott.

Table: some of Tulloch Lodge's 2-year-olds for 2023/24