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There’s a simple goal for talented galloper Bottega this preparation – to get the confidence up and put more wins on the board.
The five-year-old has been winless since May 2020 but he has performed well in good company including a fifth in Colette's Golden Eagle and added two more Group 3 placings to his stakes record in the autumn.
Co-trainer Gerald Ryan said there are no grand plans for the summer at this stage and would like to see a positive return in the ACY Securities Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
"I'd like to get him winning again, it's been a while since he's won a race,'' Ryan said.
"They can lose confidence, sometimes I think they get sick of getting beat up."
Bottega, $6.50 with TAB on Thursday, opened his last campaign with a narrow defeat in the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket over 1400m and on the evidence of his recent trial win Ryan believes he has a happy horse.
"He appears to be coming up well, he's in a good frame of mind,'' he said.
"His trial was good, his work has been good, the spell has done him a world of good."
It's worth noting that Bottega led all the win to win his 1050m trial at Canterbury on November but Ryan said it's highly unlikely he'll be ridden that way on Saturday.
Tommy Berry rode the entire in that trial and is on board again on race day.
"I liked the way he pinged the lids and travelled, he was strong and relaxed. He quickened,'' Ryan said.
"He showed a bit more speed than normal, I was just happy with the way he went.
"We won't change his racing pattern, they didn't go very fast in the trial early. These horses on Saturday will probably run along a bit."
Ryan is adamant there's a win in the near future for Amica who will join stablemate Cisco Bay in the Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap (1600m).
The mare has caught the eye in both runs back particularly last when dropping in distance as she ran on to be beaten under a length by Shihonka over 1350m at Rosehill, clocking 33.52 for her last 600m (Punter's Intelligence) which was just a tick outside the race's best.
"She's going terrific, she's come up really well,'' he said.
"Her two runs back have been good and she's getting to her proper journey this time. She's got Randwick form provided she gets firm footing underneath her."
Cisco Bay didn't appreciate a Heavy 10 at Rosehill last start as he battled into fourth behind Lord Ardmore but Ryan feels it was more the distance that felled him.
"He's consistent, he went to 1800m the other day and proved again he doesn't run it,'' he said.
"Back in grade and back to a mile suits him."
And lightly raced filly Bitcoin Baby faces the older horses again in the UNSW Handicap (1400m) after downing stablemate In Lighten Me narrowly on the Kensington track on December 3.
Ryan said it's likely In Lighten Me would run at Canterbury and he expects Bitcoin Baby to be competitive as usual despite giving away plenty of experience to her rivals.
"She was good first-up and it was a good win at Kensington, she's a nice filly I've always had a bit of time for,'' he said.
