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By Ray Hickson

Blueblood colt Dawn Service has been on the back foot compared to some of his stablemates having missed the bulk of his two-year-old season but co-trainer Adrian Bott says he’ll have the chance to take another step toward the spring at Rosehill on Saturday.

Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The $1.4 million son of former topliner Sunlight had his first trial in December last year but took more time than his compatriots and didn’t make his debut until mid-July.

On the back of a runaway provincial maiden win on the first day of his three-year-old season the Justify colt will be out to continue to make up for lost time in the Schweppes Handicap (1300m).

“Any time a horse can step out at two or at any stage of their career earlier than most it’s going to be an advantage,’’ Bott said.

“You look at this preparation and if he’s to make the grade, which I think he can, he’s going to have to do it on the back of his first racing campaign.

“That’s a harder ask for him versus if you look at a couple of horses from our stable that raced at two, they’re naturally more seasoned and conditioned.

“He'll be better next time in, Dawn Service, having had this preparation and that’s when I think we can start to see the horse put it all together.”

After his third over 1100m on debut on the Kensington track, Dawn Service reacted to the addition of blinkers plus the step up to 1300m and a firmer surface to score by four lengths at Hawkesbury.

Bott said he’d prefer Rosehill to be closer to good but he expects the youngster, $2.70 with TAB on Friday, will show good tactical speed again and it’ll be up to Dawn Service to measure up.

“It was a nice maiden win there last start, he’s got to take that next step again but he was impressive in the way he did it,’’ he said.

“I’d like to see him on a firmer track rather than a rain affected surface and I do think he’ll appreciate stretching out a bit further in time.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, he’s going from a maiden into Saturday grade but there’ll potentially be a couple of nice races for him on the back of Saturday if he can continue to take that next step.”

Shangri La Express was one of the early stars of another stellar two-year-old season from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team, winning the Kirkham Plate and $1m Golden Gift.

The colt returns, having finished unplaced in the Golden Slipper, in the Listed $200,000 Sydney Markets Rosebud (1100m) with the challenge of having to shoulder 60kg.

That’s something Bott is wary of but he said the horse couldn’t have trialled better leading in under jockey Tim Clark.

“I feel like he’s come back in good shape, he’s got to carry a fair bit of weight which is not easy,’’ he said.

“He’s bumping into some horses that are potentially progressive they’ve fitter than him and he’s got to give weight to them so it’s not an easy set up for him.”

Dawn Service wins at Hawkesbury on August 1

Adrian Bott on Kibou (race 7): “He's just had the one trial and I thought it was a nice smart trial. He looks in good shape, he probably lacked a bit of consistency but I think the ability is still there. We’ve got to find the right races and conditions for him and hopefully get a bit of confidence back.”

Meanwhile, Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and boom colt Storm Boy will have to wait until Monday to have their second trials back after the Randwick session due Friday was moved back due to unsuitable conditions.

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