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By Ray Hickson

The autumn of 2021 was supposed to be Dawn Passage’s time to realise his potential but as the year nears its end co-trainer Adrian Bott is hoping the entire can turn the corner at Newcastle on Saturday.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Bott is forgiving of Dawn Passage’s first-up failure in the Classique Legend Stakes (1300m) and says from what he’s seen in the two weeks since then he’s expecting a lot more in the $1m The Hunter (1300m).

The five-year-old was trapped wide on the speed when resuming and weakened to finish 11th behind Eduardo but Bott saw enough in the run to be encouraged.

“He was definitely in need of the run first-up, he was a while off the scene and being an older entire he needed it,’’ he said.

“The fact that he had a tough run in transit probably highlighted that as well. So knocking up wasn’t any surprise but I liked the way he worked into it, knowing where he is at in his campaign.

“He’s had a good couple of weeks since then, he went to Canterbury during the week and worked up nicely.”

A year ago Dawn Passage was being touted as a Doncaster Mile candidate for Bott and Gai Waterhouse after he was narrowly defeated in the $7.5m Golden Eagle and $1m The Gong.

When he returned earlier this year he failed to find that sort of form in three starts and was found to require a tie-forward procedure to correct a breathing issue.

“He had a few reasons as to why he just wasn’t quite firing the way we knew he could,’’ he said.

“You definitely want to see that improvement in his next couple of runs but I’d be putting a line through his last preparation.”

Bott expects Dawn Passage, $15 with TAB on Friday, to make some use of a favourable barrier and with a kinder run in transit than first-up he’s quietly confident the horse can bounce back.

There’s a chance an improved showing will see Dawn Passage back-up in the $1m The Gong (1600m) next week at Kembla Grange.

“Getting a bit of cover would be of benefit to him,’’ he said.

“He has a good turn of foot which we’ve seen previously, he’s probably got a bit more tactical speed these days which he can use to his advantage.

“I want to give him as economical run as possible knowing he has improvement to come.”

Pierro filly Uncorked makes her debut in the NZB Airfreight Max Lees Classic (900m) on the back of an impressive trial win a couple of weeks ago.

Bott said the two-year-old, $4 favourite with TAB on Friday, has surprised him a little and the fact that she’s only had the one trial shouldn’t be seen as a negative given the stable’s normal practice is to trial twice.

“Usually we’d look to give her another trial going to the races but it’s a 900m race so we’re approaching it differently,’’ he said.

“In fairness she never struck me as a real early precocious jump and run two-year-old given her make up and pedigree. I was pleasantly surprised with her trial a couple of weeks back.

Dawn Passage runs second in The Gong last year

“There was a lot of boxes she ticked to say she has a fair bit of class and that’s what will take her through even though she’s not a natural speedster.”

Hush Writer has contested the past three Newcastle Cups, winning in 2019, and he’s back in town for the inaugural $300,000 Visit Karaka 2022 The Beauford (2300m).

The gelding has been a little slow to find his best form but he was strongly supported before running fourth in the City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) three weeks ago and Bott is making use of the true weight allowance so he will only carry 52kg.

“He’s been improving every time he stepped out so whether the campaign was a bit rushed for him, he seems to have improved out of that race again,’’ he said.

“He’s not too dour at this point, everything we’ve seen at home points to him running a good race.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's The Hunter meeting at Newcastle