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In The Congo might have ‘winter form’ against his name but co-trainer Adrian Bott says there’s always been something about the colt that suggests he can enter spring calculations at Randwick on Saturday.
The Listed $150,000 Fujitsu General Rosebud (1100m) has drawn together a mix of winter finds and youngsters with autumn two-year-old form so it's a chance for a horse like In The Congo to show his wares.
The son of Sniztel was an all the way winner on debut in mid-May then was beaten by the bob of the head in a deceptive finish with Verne at Randwick on June 12.
"He had a short let up off his winter form and while it was only a short time out he's come back a bit stronger,'' Bott said.
"I think his winter form can stand up, he's trialling well and is nice and forward ready for his first-up run.
"We've always held him in pretty high regard. He's shown a high level of natural ability, he went shin sore early days which prevented him being up earlier in his career.
"He's performed right up to expectation, he's the type of horse that is going to keep improving."
Bott and Gai Waterhouse have won the Rosebud twice with Thronum in 2016 and Dawn Passage two years ago.
In The Congo was $5 second favourite with TAB on Thursday having beaten Mazu in his only trial since the break on July 27. He's a $26 chance in all-in Group 1 Golden Rose betting.
Bott expects that Tim Clark will have the option of leading or taking a sit from an ideal draw.
"He has that tactical speed himself and the draw to take advantage of it,'' he said.
"He has a good turn of foot so we are in a nice position to give ourselves a few options."
Vreneli backs up in the ClubsNSW Western Metropolitan Handicap (1400m) after an improved third behind Tamerlane last weekend.
Bott said he's been looking for a better track and the experience in the blinkers will stand him in good stead.
"It was a much better run on top of the ground, it was great to see,'' he said.
"He raced a bit fresh in the blinkers for the first time, that probably made him vulnerable. He was a sitting duck there for a few of them but for him to stick on was encouraging."
Another shot at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap remains the spring target for Riodini who resets his campaign in the Group 2 $200,000 Heineken Missile Stakes (1200m).
The five-year-old, third in the Epsom of 2020, had his first run since the Golden Eagle when he finished eighth behind Bandersnatch in the Winter Stakes (1400m) a month ago, and Bott expects him to put in a more positive performance.
"Obviously it is short of his best and it's not ideal he's already had the one run this campaign over 1400m,'' he said.
"It was a heavy track so you can put a line through the performance. This gets him back on path towards an Epsom campaign for him and I think we will see a more competitive run than last start but understanding that 1200m is not his forte."
Riodini is a $26 chance in TAB's all-in Epsom Handicap market.
