Sydney’s leading lady of racing Gai Waterhouse has confirmed a January hit-out for a half-brother to Winx as the public await to see what is in store for the heavily spruiked Boulder City.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott are preparing for the debut of Boulder City who is a half-brother to champion mare Winx (pictured). Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The world’s best mare Winx is Chris Waller-trained and became Australia’s highest-earning racehorse taking her prize money up to $15.6 million with her historic third Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) success.
Sharing the dam Vegas Showgirl with the champion, the racing world is keeping a close eye on Snitzel colt Boulder City who is unraced but already gaining plenty of attention.
Waterhouse admitted there is mounting pressure on Boulder City to perform early in his career after connections paid $2.3 million for the Winx-connected youngster at the 2016 Inglis Easter Sales, but that patience was the key.
“He has been an immature sort of horse but he has a great action,” she told Racing NSW.
“You’ve got to be patient with these horses but once he gets up and racing he’ll go ahead quickly.”
A full-brother to Boulder City, the ill-fated El Divino was also Waterhouse-trained early on.
He won his opening two career starts, but failed to salute again after being transferred later to the stables of Darren Weir and sadly put down last month following a fractured cannon bone sustained during trackwork.
Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott are plotting the summer – autumn campaigns of a number of their stable standouts including $2.8 million earning mare English who is now back in work.
A five-year-old daughter of Encosta De Lago, English has not posted a turf triumph since the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) won in the mud at Randwick on March 4.
She enjoyed a Group 1 victory over Black Heart Bart in April of 2016 winning the All Aged Stakes (1400m) and was competitive in a number of races over the spring.
Two back she ran a midfield sixth when under three lengths defeated by subsequent Darley Classic winner Redzel in the $10 million The Everest (1200m).
English failed in her last start however during a drama-fuelled edition of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 27.
Chautauqua was a controversial scratching at the barriers, while English was allowed to run only to finish dead last when 22 lengths back ninth to the winner Hey Doc.
The stable have a number of contenders across the Randwick card on Saturday including Cabeza De Vaca and Dark Eyes in the Group 2 $250,000 Villiers Stakes (1600m).
Last start Listed ATC Cup (2000m) winner Broadside lines-up in the Listed $125,000 Christmas Cup (2400m), the mile and a half clash only attracting six original nominees, as the other Waterhouse & Bott-trained stakes runner on the weekend.