![Sly Boots [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2335691.jpg)
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sly Boots had sprinted to the front in the ATC Thank You Stable Staff Handicap (1800m) only for Perfect Justice to unleash a powerful burst down the centre of the famous Randwick straight.
Boss conceded he feared the worst as Perfect Justice closed in on Sly Boots.
“I thought that the other horse (Perfect Justice) was going to go straight past us,” Bott said.
“But To Sly Boots’ credit he really dug deep and found a way to win.
“He’s been up a while but has been racing very consistently without winning so he deserved to win this today.”
Sly Boots ($4.80), well ridden by Rachel King, resisted a determined Perfect Justice ($4.20) to score by a half neck with favourite Trapalanda ($3.50) three-quarters of a length away third.
King also felt Perfect Justice was going to be hard to hold out when he came after Sly Boots.
“But Sly Boots saw him coming and he raised another effort,” King said.
“I think the drier track helped and he really wanted to win today.”
Bott was unsure of immediate plans for Sly Boots who improved his record to five wins and seven placings from 27 starts, taking his career earnings over the $400,000 mark.
Sly Boots given a Rachel King special and gets the job done at Randwick 💪@rachelK11 @gaiwaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/8qyfEOtrVx
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 25, 2026
“We might look at a similar type of race in the next couple of weeks,” Bott said.
The John Sargetn-trained Perfect Justice continued his consistent winter form but this was his third second placing from four starts, his only success coming in a Midway over 1600m when he edged out The Mona Lisa earlier this month.
But it is hard to make excuses for Perfect Justice although the gelding had to go wide on the turn and make a long sustained run while the winner saved ground by ducking back to the inside which probably was the difference given the two was separated by a small margin.
