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By Ray Hickson

Sovereign Hill had the misfortune of bumping into what might be a genuine spring contender two weeks ago so co-trainer Adrian Bott takes some confidence into the colt’s return to Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Adrian Bott. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The youngster proved no match for the unbeaten Emirate but that horse won’t be there when the gates open in the Chandon Handicap (1400m).

Bott and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse are closing in on last season’s 37 two-year-old race wins with 31 in 2023/24 to date and he said, while beaten in the 1300m race run in deteriorating conditions, Sovereign Hill was far from disgraced after setting the speed.

“We certainly couldn’t fault his performance, I thought it was really good on the day,’’ Bott said on Sky Sports Radio.

“The winner was simply too good and looks a nice progressive horse.

“It looks a nice race for him, I would have thought the 1400m would be suitable for him.

“If he can repeat his performance from there last start I would have thought that sees him going very close. He looks to have trained on and looks in good shape.”

Adam Hyeronimus won on Sovereign Hill, $3.20 with TAB on Wednesday, at the colt's debut and is back in the saddle on Saturday.

Former Kiwi I’mintowin could be restricted to races around the mile mark this preparation, Bott said, and he’s set to attempt a repeat of his first-up win from the spring in the Racing For Good On July 13 Handicap (1500m).

The four-year-old led all the way over the same track and distance on Novembver 4 but wasn’t quite as effective when stepped up in trip in two subsequent runs.

Bott said he’s been trained up for a solid first-up performance and sees the 2kg claim for in-form apprentice Amy McLucas as a big plus.

“He’s had three trials to really have him up to the mark for his first-up run,’’ Bott said.

“He looks to have come back nicely, strengthened up well. There were encouraging signs from him last preparation from him particularly first-up, he performed very well.

“We tried to stretch him out in trip last campaign, we’ll see how he progresses this time in but he may just be very effective around that mile distance.”

Bott and Waterhouse won the Listed $200,000 Kia Winter Cup (2400m) with subsequent Sydney Cup winner Knights Order in 2021 and they have dual representation in Sir Lucan and Youth Spirit.

Both horses are coming off below par runs but Bott said there may have been an excuse for the former, who is backing up from the Lord Mayors Cup, while the latter’s last start Randwick failure three weeks ago was head scratching.

“He’s coming off a disappointing run but I think he can bounce back,’’ he said.

“Certainly getting up in trip is what he’s looking for at this part of the preparation but first-up he was very good.

Sovereign Hill runs second at Rosehill on June 1

“Similarly Sir Lucan, last weekend may not have appreciated the real testing conditions there. I know he performed very well on a rain affected track at Newcastle but I just felt he struggled there.

“He’s come through the race in good shape so more than happy to see him back up.”

Adrian Bott on Ha Ha Ha (race 6): “I thought it was an encouraging trial from her, 1300m may be a little short for her. Once we see her get to a mile and beyond, as with most of those Europeans that when they come into her own.”

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