A winner of two of her eight starts in Ireland, Ha Ha Ha, hasn’t raced for 20 months but Adrian Bott says the rising six-year-old is ready to return to competition.
You short and sharp information dose for the Stradbroke Handicap.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Ha Ha Ha is topweight with 61kg for the Precise Air Handicap (1300m).
A winner of two of her eight starts in Ireland, Ha Ha Ha, hasn’t raced for 20 months but Bott said the rising six-year-old is ready to return to competition.
However, Bott stopped short of predicting Ha Ha Ha is set for a similar stunning Sydney debut that stablemate, French import, Eliyass, made winning the Lord Mayor’s Cup last week.
“I think the 1300m might be a touch short of her best,’’ said Bott of the Irish import who has a very similar name to Ha Ha, Waterhouse’s first of a record Golden Slipper winners in 2001.
“But Ha Ha Ha is a nice mare and will keep improving as she gets out to a mile and beyond.’’
Tulloch Lodge is relying on another two imports in the Listed $200,000 Winter Cup (2400m) with Sir Lucan and Youth Spirit.
Sir Lucan wins the Randwick City Stakes.
Both are coming off indifferent last start efforts with Sir Lucan leading early before fading for ninth to Eliyass last week while Youth Spirit also dropped out of contention from the turn when near last to Golden Path three weeks ago.
“We will back-up with Sir Lucan in the Winter Cup,’’ Bott said. “I know he ran well on a heavy track when second in the Gosford Cup but he struggled in those conditions last week.
“Maybe getting back onto an improving surface will give him the chance to run a better race.
“Youth Spirit will also go around in the Cup. He is hard to catch but I can tell you the horse is working well.’’
The Waterhouse-Bott stable has in-form apprentice Amy McLucas riding Ha Ha Ha and Youth Spirit and the trainers are also taking advantage of her 2kg claim to reduce I’mintowin’s 61.5kg impost for the Racing For Good On July 13 Handicap (1500m).
“I’mintowin is resuming off three barrier trials and he does go well fresh. He looks to be back in good shape,’’ Bott said.