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By Ray Hickson

Whether it comes this carnival or next, Adrian Bott is adamant blueblooded import Dajraan is destined for bigger assignments than what he faces at his second Australian start at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The four-year-old holds a couple of aggressive nominations during The Star Championships – a Star Doncaster and Longines Queen Elizabeth no less – but long before they become realities he must pass what will be a stern test in the XXXX Handicap (1400m).

Dajraan made an impressive local debut at Warwick Farm on Australia Day and was $3.00 with TAB on Thursday to make it two from two.

“He won quite convincingly, he always looked in control,’’ Bott said.

“He has to take that next step, taking on tougher opposition and still has to lump a decent weight. I want to see him take that next step before we set our sights too high for him but we feel he is capable of progressing to a better grade.

“You find it can take them a good 12 months before they really adapt and show their best but in saying that he’s done very well in his time here. It looks to be agreeing with him.”

He may be an import but Dajraan, who is by superstar Frankel, is a son of Mossfun who won the Silver Slipper at the corresponding meeting back in 2014.

Bott said being able to win first-up at 1200m is a sign of his talent given he and Gai Waterhouse expect him to be more effective as the distances increase.

“The 1400m is probably still short of his best but more suitable than the conditions he faced first-up,’’ he said.

“It’s always difficult for European horses having their first run in Australia and adapting to the conditions. He was above himself in the yard so I expect him to settle down with that run and naturally take a good bit of improvement in his race fitness.

“He showed enough speed at 1200m to be prominent in the run, tactically I’d like to see him be pretty positive again.”

The Group 2 $400,000 Petaluma Hobartville Stakes (1400m) is set to shape the autumn campaigns for stablemates Converge and Silent Impact and Bott said they are looking for the distance increase on their last starts.

Both tackled 1200m contests at Randwick two weeks ago, Converge finishing third behind Paulele in the Eskimo Prince while Silent Impact was runner-up to Maotai in a fast run Benchmark 88.

“Silent Impact was probably just looking to get out in trip by that point,’’ Bott said.

“It was a better run than maybe what it suggested. I know he’s stepping up sharply in grade and hasn’t contested a level these other horses have but there was a lot to like about that run and he can make his presence felt.”

He said Converge had to be ridden a little out of his comfort zone in the Eskimo Prince and will take great fitness benefit from the run. But importantly it showed Bott the gelding has come back, having missed the bulk of the spring, in top shape.

“I thought it was an excellent return. We’ll probably see him ridden that little more conservatively,’’ he said.

Dajraan wins at Warwick Farm on January 26

“There were a few that had to be ridden out of their pattern first-up but he sprinted well and ultimately condition gave out late. He’s shown that greater turn of foot over 1400m and 1600m so coming up against specialist sprinters like Paulele they can sustain a greater sprint than him.

“He still has more improvement to come off Saturday as well.”

Metropolitan runner-up Entente has been given a solid grounding with three trials for his assignment in the Listed $140,000 Parramatta Cup (1900m).

The five-year-old kicked off the spring at 1500m before stepping up to a middle distance so it wouldn’t surprise Bott if he’s more competitive fresh than he has been.

“We’ve tried to have him nice and forward for the race,’’ he said.

“I thought he showed great progression last campaign and showed a good bit of class. If he races up to that form he’s going to have a good preparation.”

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