Bott expects Surfin’ Bird to soar when distances rise

The major targets for Surfin’ Bird will come deeper in the spring, but co-trainer Adrian Bott is looking forward to the emerging mare getting her preparation started in the Golden Pendant at Rosehill.

The five-year-old has only raced nine times for five wins, including when rounding out her most recent campaign with victory in the Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.

Three of her triumphs have been over 1550m and further, and while Bott anticipates a bold first-up run in Saturday’s 1400m feature, he can’t wait until Surfin’ Bird steps out in distance.

“It will be a tough race for her first-up, and she will be better suited when she gets out to the mile, but I thought she’d been trialling up well,” Bott said.

“She had a great campaign in the winter. We will probably head down to Melbourne with her after this.”

Tim Clark has the mount on Surfin’ Bird from barrier three and she is a $6.50 chance in a race where five of the nine runners are at single-figure odds with betting headed by class runner Lazzura at $2.30.

Bott also expects returning stablemate New Endeavour to improve on whatever he does in the Shannon Stakes (1500m).

The gelding finished third in the corresponding race 12 months ago but has been out of action since placing behind Gringotts in The Gong (1600m) last November, and has never won first-up.

“He’s been a while off the scene but has come back well,” Bott said.

“He’ll be better again once he gets to 2000 metres.”

Regan Bayliss will partner New Endeavour, while Dylan Gibbons takes the reins on stablemate Sovereign Hill, who has been scratched from a benchmark race in preference for the Group 2.

The Shannon Stakes pair will be among a team of eight Rosehill runners for Tulloch Lodge along with outsider Plagiarism in the afternoon’s drawcard, the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m).