Adrian Bott is keeping the faith in Sir Lucan, confident the horse can stage a rapid about-face at Rosehill despite his well beaten effort as favourite in the Lord Mayors Cup.
The six-year-old carried the hopes of many punters at Randwick last Saturday but was one of the first horses beaten, finishing ninth and more than 13 lengths from stablemate and impressive winner Eliyass in the 2000m feature.
While it wasn’t the performance Bott was anticipating from Sir Lucan, he felt there were mitigating circumstances.
“He might not have enjoyed the really heavy conditions on Saturday, that may have just found him out,” Bott said.
“He did have to do a bit of work early from a wide draw, and he may be looking for the 2400 metres now, so I can find a few excuses for him.
“He looks well placed here, so I’d try to be forgiving of that last start if anything.”
Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse have opted to give Sir Lucan an immediate chance to make amends and the horse will head to Saturday’s Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on a seven-day back-up.
Despite the Randwick failure, his previous form was solid, including a narrow second to the in-form Hezashocka in the Gosford Cup (2100m) last month.
Bott is also looking for an improved showing from stablemate Youth Spirit, who has mixed his form since arriving from Europe two years ago.
A Group 3 winner overseas, Youth Spirit contested the 2021 Epsom Derby and St Leger but is still searching for his first Australian win.
He made an encouraging start to his preparation when runner-up at Eagle Farm in May before finishing down the track over 2000m at Randwick last time out and Bott expects him to appreciate a distance rise.
“He hasn’t captured his European form, that’s fair to say, and he has been a little bit frustrating in that regard,” Bott said.
“He might just need a bit of confidence and hopefully this is the right race where he looks well placed to do it.
“Both horses have trained on nicely so I’m very happy to push right on with them.”
Waterhouse and Bott are chasing their second Winter Cup as a training partnership having won the race three years ago with Knights Order, who represents the stable in Saturday’s Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm.