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By Ray Hickson

It’s not been the build-up co-trainer Adrian Bott sees as ideal for North England’s Golden Slipper assault but he’s confident the colt can show he’s on target at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Grant Guy)

North England was due to resume two weeks ago in the Silver Slipper but Bott was unhappy with his blood results that week and kept him at home.

A rousing track gallop between races last Saturday, where North England ran 48.22 for his 800m work, showed Bott he’d taken no harm from that setback and he was ready to return in the Group 2 $300,000 Darley Todman Stakes (1200m).

“I still thought he had a few gears there to go, we didn’t get to the bottom of him in his work there on the day,’’ Bott said.

“He looks in great shape, he’s a very talented horse so we’re looking forward to seeing him back at the races.

“He’s been qualified so that’s helped, we would have preferred to have the run and not miss the Silver Slipper but it is what it is.

“It’s not the be all and end all, he’s in the race, and we’d like to see some nice improvement going into the Slipper. Saturday is not the full picture for him.”

As the Golden Gift winner, and as Bott mentioned, North England is in the enviable position of already having a Golden Slipper berth secured.

Bott, who co-trains with Gai Waterhouse, said ideally going into the $5 million feature in two weeks third-up would be a better set up but the grounding he had from the spring should stand him in good stead.

“It’s important to get as much race experience as you can, going into a high pressure race like the Slipper you need to be right at your peak,’’ Bott said.

“Any exposure you can get prior to that is beneficial. He’s lucky that he’s probably had more exposure than most with two runs in pressure races so he’s performed at that level and understands what that’s all about.”

Interestingly, the last three Tulloch Lodge colts to win the Golden Slipper - Pierro, Vancouver and Farnan - all won the Todman Stakes on the way.

North England, $5 with TAB on Wednesday, led all the way to win the Golden Gift and he’s shown his customary early speed to win his two trials prior to the setback.

Tim Clark rides the colt who has drawn barrier eight and Bott feels that sort of draw can work in his favour.

“He can be versatile as well, there’s plenty of options for the way he can be ridden,’’ he said.

“I think he’s effective any which way and we’ve drawn not too badly relative to a few others.”

Stablemate Farcited, an impressive debut winner at Canberra last month, has also accepted in the Todman though Bott said it was more than likely he’ll head back to the nation’s capital on Sunday.

The son of Waterhouse & Bott’s 2020 Golden Slipper winner Farnan came up with barrier two at Randwick though Bott is wary he’s been less exposed than North England.

“He’s a talented horse but it’s whether we look to produce him against those top quality horses just yet or going to the Black Opal might be a better way of getting him qualified,’’ he said.

Import Royal Patronage starts his second campaign at Tulloch Lodge in the Group 1 $750,000 Toyota Forklifts Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on the back of two solid trials.

North England's trial win at Rosehill on February 3

The six-year-old made his Australian debut in the spring downing Amelia’s Jewel in the Tramway Stakes before placing in the 7 Stakes, the Epsom and the Hill Stakes.

“He’s come back really well and I thought his trials have been excellent,’’ he said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him step out, he’s a high class racehorse on his day. If we can find the right race for him I feel there’s a big race win in him somewhere.”

Royal Patronage has 54.5kg in the Group 1 The Star Doncaster Mile, 55.5kg in the Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup and is also nominated for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

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