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By Ray Hickson

We haven’t seen the best of exciting colt Storm Boy yet, that’s the ominous warning from co-trainer Adrian Bott as the ruling Golden Slipper favourite looks to stamp his authority at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Adrian Bott. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

While the Group 2 $300,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Skyline Stakes (1200m) isn’t the most reliable Golden Slipper lead-up it’s the race Bott says will top the valuable colt off nicely for the $5 million TAB Golden Slipper in three weeks.

The last Skyline Stakes winner to convert on Golden Slipper Day was Dance Hero, trained by Gai Waterhouse, in 2004 and that’s the path Waterhouse and Bott set Storm Boy on from the moment he won the Magic Millions in January.

“He’s just been kept right up to the mark from Magic Millions,’’ Bott said.

“We saw a very talented horse that was still quite raw, which is exciting as I think there’s continual improvement with further racing.

“No doubt he’s the horse that’s got the runs on the board, he’s proven himself the most at that level at this stage.”

Storm Boy stifles Skyline betting at $1.30 with TAB on Thursday and James McDonald will be having his first race ride on the colt which was purchased by Coolmore recently in a deal that could wind up being worth up to $60 million depending on results for the rest of the campaign.

McDonald took the opportunity to give Storm Boy a spin in a barrier trial on February 15.

“We saw a very nice trial from him, obviously we want to see a nice strong return again on Saturday and give us all the indicators we’re right on track for the Golden Slipper which we appear to be at present,’’ Bott said.

“He’s got an incredible constitution for racing, he’s got tremendous speed and he has the depth to him that means he can sustain the speed and quicken off that.

“When there’s a bit of a pain barrier there that’s when he just seems to find another level. That’s the exciting part.”

Waterhouse and Bott have six of the top seven in Slipper betting, headed by Storm Boy at $2.80, but Bott said it shouldn’t be forgotten that Canonbury Stakes winner Prost is a talented horse in his own right.

While Prost has to face Storm Boy, Bott said he has the jump from a fitness perspective after his strong first-up win. Adam Hyeronimus, who rode Storm Boy to his Magic Millions win, rides Prost in the Skyline.

“That first-up win was very good and he’s open to improvement off that, the 1200m will suit him better,’’ Bott said.

“He has the advantage of having that run this preparation so he’s very forward.

“The three weeks provides a nice platform into the Golden Slipper but we also felt he has a bit more racing to give after the Slipper.”

The Tulloch Lodge colts have overshadowed the fillies a little this season but Chateau Miraval has the chance to step up in the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).

It was a narrow debut win by the filly at Kensington in mid-February but Bott saw plenty of merit in the performance.

“She’s a very nice filly, I thought she performed gamely against some talented colts,’’ he said.

“She’s open to a good deal of improvement, she did a few little things wrong but at the end of the day when the pressure was on she was good enough and tough enough to get the job done.

“If we can see those levels of improvement she can take that next step.”

Chateau Miraval is a $51 chance in Slipper betting with Blue Diamond runner-up Lady Of Camelot the shortest priced filly at $13.

Storm Boy wins a Rosehill trial on February 15

Adrian Bott on Just Fine (race 7): “He’s come back in great shape but a few there have the fitness advantage on him, he’s a middle distance staying type of horse so once we get him out in trip he’ll be better placed. There’s good improvement first-up off the mile, he may find a couple sharper than him at this trip at weight-for-age level.”

On Tropical Squall (race 8): “She’s in fantastic shape, we’re very happy with her. Her trials have been excellent and her work’s been very good.”

On Autumn Ballet (race 8): “I thought off what we’d seen at home she should have run better, no real excuses there on the day so she does need to improve. Stepping to the 1400m is beneficial to her. The addition of blinkers we think might help find that extra couple of lengths we know she’s capable of.”

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