Dawn Service has made headlines for being the first progeny out of multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight, but co-trainer Adrian Bott believes he will eventually garner attention for his on-track deeds as well.
The colt followed a debut third on the Kensington track last month with an emphatic four-length win at Hawkesbury on August 1, clocking a slick 33.18 seconds for his final 600m sectional.
Bott is anticipating another competitive showing when Dawn Service steps up to Saturday company for the Schweppes Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill this weekend but says his real hopes for the $1.4 million yearling purchase are longer-term.
“I still think Saturday’s trip is short of his best,” Bott said.
“Even though mum was a very good sprinter, I think he will be a really nice miler.
“But it’s a nice next step for him.”
Dawn Service got the job done over Saturday’s journey at Hawkesbury and Bott expected the colt to take confidence from that outing.
It was also the three-year-old’s first time in blinkers, which remain on this weekend.
“He went slightly back in grade to Hawkesbury to try to give him a bit of confidence, the blinkers on to help him focus as well and that did the trick. It really sharpened him up,” Bott said.
“He travelled well throughout, but his sprint home was very good, he ran time on the day and looked good doing it.”
Bott hasn’t thought far beyond Saturday and says given Dawn Service is in his initial racing preparation, an extended spring campaign is unlikely.
More probable is giving him another run or two and then a break to recalibrate for the autumn.
“It’s difficult at their first racing campaign to go too deep into the preparation, particularly getting into the harder races and coming up against more seasoned opposition,” Bott said.
“There is a nice race there, it’s just how far we push this campaign.
“It might not be this prep, but next prep when he puts it all together, that will be his chance.”
Tim Clark rides Dawn Service, who remains a narrow $2.70 betting app favourite, just ahead of well-backed debutante Autumn Glow, who has firmed from $4 into a clear $3.20 second elect with betting sites in Australia.