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By Ray Hickson

It was the ‘gear change’ that played a role in champion sprinter Nature Strip’s TAB Everest victory and Adrian Bott hopes the barrier extension can do the same for Storm Boy in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million James Squire Golden Rose (1400m).

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Grant Guy)

A barrier extension is used to give larger horses a bit more room in the gates, so they’re not so cramped, and Bott said it’s worth a try with the star colt who at time has had issues with breaking cleanly from the stalls.

Chris Waller took what he saw at the time as a gamble and applied the extension to Nature Strip and it proved a masterstroke in the 2021 TAB Everest.

When there’s a Group 1 on the line for a prospective stallion, who was purchased by Coolmore for a hefty sum, Bott said it’s a small change that could make a big difference.

“He’s a big horse, we’re trying to find a small tweak that allows him to execute that start better,’’ Bott said.

“We’ve used it before on similar types of horses. It may not necessarily be the answer but it’s important we’re looking at small tweaks to help him.

“He wasn’t that slow to begin last start it was just where he was placed in the field he suffered some interference coming out of the gates.”

Storm Boy, $4.60 with TAB on Thursday, led all the way to win the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) first-up then had to work overtime after that mishap at the start to find the lead in the Run To The Rose (1200m) where he boxed away for third.

Along with the extension, Bott said he doesn’t mind Storm Boy jumping from the outside barrier as it means he won’t be squeezed up between horses and shouldn’t be standing in the gates too long.

“There’s a few positives that go with the outside draw and for his characteristics it may help,’’ he said.

“I thought he was very game, I think he’s bounced out of that run well and getting to the 1400m naturally is a positive for him.

“He’s third-up now so he’s ready to be hitting his peak. He looks well in himself and if we can see the rain hold off going into the weekend he’s going to get the right track conditions as well.”

Bott said the conditions at Rosehill will be significant for all three of his and Gai Waterhouse’s Golden Rose runners but moreso for Anode, who finished ahead of Storm Boy in running second in the Run To The Rose.

“There was plenty of merit to his performance, I can’t knock him nor what he’s done in his career,’’ he said.

“I will say his best performances have been on top of the ground so that’s a key aspect for him. He’s drawn wide as well but he has a lot of tactical speed to overcome that.”

Mayfair is the outsider of the Tulloch Lodge trio but what he has in his favour is a run at 1400m under his belt having been narrowly beaten by Lady Shenandoah in the Ming Dynasty two weeks ago.

“He’s coming through with a different profile and that may work to his advantage particularly if it is a testing 1400m he’s had that conditioning,’’ Bott said.

“I think he’s better on top of the ground also but he has some experience on the soft ground.”

Dual Group 1 winning mare Tropical Squall will be out to restore her reputation after a first-up failure when she comes off a freshen into the Group 2 $400,000 Racing And Sports Golden Pendant (1400m).

Storm Boy runs third in the Run To The Rose

The four-year-old beat two horses home in the Winx Stakes first-up and Bott has the fingers cross she will respond to the patient approach after a first-up run that he said she felt a bit.

“We wanted to take our time with her off the back of that first-up run which was obviously below par,’’ he said.

“I thought she’s picked up very well and seems right back to herself, and hopefully ready to bounce back for us.

"She’s still got to prove herself as an older mare to an extent. I have a lot of confidence in her and I think she’s getting back to where we want her to be.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting