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By Ray Hickson

Co-trainer Adrian Bott is a little concerned that imported galloper Surf Dancer is giving away fitness to his rivals in his local debut at Randwick on Saturday but is expecting to get a good measure of his potential.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The four-year-old, formerly trained by William Haggas, has been gelded since he arrived in Australia late last year and Bott said so far he’s done everything right for what he sees as a good test in the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Handicap (1400m).

“He’s probably sharper than most of the Europeans we have brought over, he is a Listed winner over 1400m, so hopefully he will be effective over the shorter trips,’’ Bott said.

“He’s trialled up really well in both his trials. I certainly feel he has a bit more progression, he’s come in with a bit of room to move in the ratings.”

In that Listed win at York a year ago, Surf Dancer sat outside the leader and powered to the front about 200m out as he ran out a clear victor.

He failed in a Group 2 prior to being sent to Sydney and Bott says gelding has helped the horse a lot physically.

He appeared to revel in the heavy ground in winning a trial at Canterbury two weeks ago and Bott said that experience will be helpful come Saturday as he takes on some hard fit horses who have been racing on wet tracks for a few weeks.

But with a natural on pace style and Tim Clark booked to ride there are plenty of positives for Surf Dancer.

“He trialled on the heavy conditions so I think he is going to be effective in that which is good,’’ he said.

“I’m hopeful he has a bit of class about him, we’ll get a better gauge on that on Saturday. He’s coming up against a couple of horses that are seasoned and deep into their campaign so are pretty fit.

“On these tracks that’s going to be an advantage for those horses.

“That’s the biggest thing against him but if he’s able to overcome that and put in a nice performance it’s a great indication of what lies ahead.”

Bott said there are high hopes that Surf Dancer can measure up to a carnival level in the new season and believes he has scope to be at least a quality miler.

“With some maturity we can certainly stretch him out further than 1400m, I can see him being a nice miler and up to 2000m I wouldn’t be ruling it out on what we have seen in his work,’’ he said.

“If he can be effective in that range it opens up options. He is only lightly raced and we feel he has a bit of upside.”

Surf Dancer wins a trial at Canterbury on July 2

Adrian Bott’s comments on some other stable runners:

Vreneli (race 3, $7.50): “He probably got a bit outsprinted (first-up) and I think he is going to stretch out to a mile this time in. He went through his grades quickly last campaign so I felt it was a good run first-up. The 1200m is probably still short of his best but I think he will run well and once we get to that 1400m-1600m range we’ll see him get back to his form.”

Yardstick (race 3, $11): “It wasn’t the easiest of tasks for him there first-up. He’s been a bit hard to catch, he has plenty of speed and plenty of talent there but putting it together has been a bit difficult. I think he will improve for the run and 1200m is better for him.”

Fortune Seeker (race 9, $6.50): “I thought she was excellent first-up. She’s very honest and stepping up to 1400m is going to be more to her liking. She gets some nice weight relief and she should show some improvement from that first-up run.”

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