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By Ray Hickson

If Bellevue Hill is a serious Group 1 contender on Day 1 of The Championships then he needs to throw his hand up by kicking off Saturday’s Rosehill meeting with a win.

Although co-trainer Adrian Bott has some reservations about a heavy track, if that eventuates, he agrees the colt must make a statement in the Group 3 $160,000 The Schweppervescence (1400m).

Bellevue Hill was third emergency for the Golden Slipper on the back of his gutsy second in the Todman Stakes so Saturday’s race is both consolation for missing out and a vital pipe opener before the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires.

“He has the chance to prove himself,’’ Bott said.

“To back up the ability we believe he has we'd definitely expect him to be very competitive.

“We'd be disappointed if he's not even with the unknown factors.

“This run will condition him nicely for the Sires' next week. A wet track is a bit of an unknown but from what we've seen in his work there's every indication he will get through it.”

Bellevue Hill runs second in the Todman Stakes at Randwick on March 9

The colt stifles betting for The Schweppervescence at $2 with TAB and he's respected in the all-in Sires' market at $11.

Bott said on his trackwork Bellevue Hill should handle just about whatever Rosehill throws at him but he just has to tick that box.

In his favour is first use of the track and his front-running racing style.

“You can get a gut feel for it. But in their work they are mainly held together and no real pressure put on them,’’ Bott said.

“We always felt he is a type who will appreciate getting over 1400m.’’

Stablemate Siege Of Quebec, a first-up fifth in the Newcastle Newmarket, is around the borderline for a run in the $3m The Star Doncaster Mile but can make a bird of it if he takes out the Group 3 $160,000 PFD Food Services Doncaster Prelude (1500m) on Saturday.

A solid trial win on heavy ground last week is some pointer to how he’ll handle the track but he has a conviction in the wet running last in the Theo Marks back in the spring in his only race day attempt.

“I don't think we see the best of him in heavy conditions so I'd prefer to see a drying track,’’ Bott said.

“He resumed at 1400m and that probably just told late. He went into that race with improvement to come.

“We gave him the trial last week and a nice hit out so he goes into this race in great shape.’’

All the fields, form and replays for Stakes Day at Rosehill on Saturday