It’s been five years since Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have sent a two-year-old they’d consider a ‘big gun’ into the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2yo Classic (1100m) but that’s the case when Tempestuous heads to Wyong on Wednesday.
The horse in question was Farnan, who won the feature in 2019 and went on to win the Golden Slipper the next autumn.
Tempestuous still has to live up to that sort of level but co-trainer Adrian Bott said the colt would hold the mantle of the stable’s leading youngster at this stage and the signs are good with the form standing up out of his close second in the Breeders’ Plate on debut.
Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Grant Guy)
Behind him that day was subsequent Golden Gift winner North England.
“I thought he was excellent in the Breeders’ himself, he was only collared in the final stride,’’ Bott said.
“He looks to have come back in great order, he didn’t have a long time out but he’s a pretty readymade two-year-old and comes to hand quickly.
“He’s very professional, he has a lot of natural brilliance about him.
“He has tactical speed but we’ve seen he can sit off, he’s got a turn of foot and acceleration so he has a lot of strings to his bow.”
The colt, $2.40 with TAB on Tuesday, reappeared a couple of weeks ago to easily win a barrier trial at Randwick and Bott said he’s done enough to set himself up for a shot at next month’s Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.
Nash Rawiller rides Tempestuous once again and he’s drawn ideally in barrier two at a track Bott says should suit the youngster.
“His trial was very good, sharp, he’s retained plenty of residual off that first campaign,’’ he said.
“It’s a big advantage for him having had that run and preparation already. It’s proven to be a pretty good set up going through this race having that 1100m run.”
Waterhouse has won the Wyong Magic Millions five times, twice in partnership with Bott, going back to 2005.
The Novelist bounced back to form with a tough all the way win at Kembla Grange last month and gets his chance to back it up in the $150,000 Magic Millions Wyong 3&4yo Stakes (1200m).
Visiting UK jockey Billy Loughnane has the ride on the gelding and if he has a bit of luck from an outside barrier this time Bott said he still has upside.
“He’s a quality horse under the right conditions,’’ he said.
“He’s not a fully seasoned horse yet. He got to the front there and floated around quite a bit at Kembla and it wasn’t until he got challenged he really responded and rallied well so there’s some improvement there for sure.”
– Racing NSW
