Sunlight colt out for Rosehill breakthrough

Posted by RS NewsWire at 6:04am on August 16th

Dawn Service has made headlines for being the first progeny out of multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight, but co-trainer Adrian Bott believes he will eventually garner attention for his on-track deeds as well.

The colt followed a debut third on the Kensington track last month with an emphatic four-length win at Hawkesbury on August 1, clocking a slick 33.18 seconds for his final 600m sectional.

Bott is anticipating another competitive showing when Dawn Service steps up to Saturday company for the Schweppes Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill this weekend but says his real hopes for the $1.4 million yearling purchase are longer-term.

“I still think Saturday’s trip is short of his best,” Bott said.

“Even though mum was a very good sprinter, I think he will be a really nice miler.

“But it’s a nice next step for him.”

Dawn Service got the job done over Saturday’s journey at Hawkesbury and Bott expected the colt to take confidence from that outing.

It was also the three-year-old’s first time in blinkers, which remain on this weekend.

“He went slightly back in grade to Hawkesbury to try to give him a bit of confidence, the blinkers on to help him focus as well and that did the trick. It really sharpened him up,” Bott said.

“He travelled well throughout, but his sprint home was very good, he ran time on the day and looked good doing it.”

Bott hasn’t thought far beyond Saturday and says given Dawn Service is in his initial racing preparation, an extended spring campaign is unlikely.

More probable is giving him another run or two and then a break to recalibrate for the autumn.

“It’s difficult at their first racing campaign to go too deep into the preparation, particularly getting into the harder races and coming up against more seasoned opposition,” Bott said.

“There is a nice race there, it’s just how far we push this campaign.

“It might not be this prep, but next prep when he puts it all together, that will be his chance.”

Tim Clark rides Dawn Service, who remains a narrow $2.70 betting app favourite, just ahead of well-backed debutante Autumn Glow, who has firmed from $4 into a clear $3.20 second elect with betting sites in Australia.

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th