Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have continued their winning ways with their two-year-olds in 2024, as Tim Clark guided Prost +240 to victory in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
With several of their juveniles taking out most of the two-year-old races in the lead up to the Golden Slipper, the Waterhouse & Bott team appear to have another good one on their hands.
This son of Snitzel was returning for his second racing preparation after finishing third behind his stablemate Espionage in the Group 3 Breeders Plate in September last year.
King Of Roseau +360 led the field up to the home corner before Prost took over at the 200m mark and raced to a clear margin, with Fearless running home down the outside into second and the race favourite Traffic Warden +240 battled on for third.
An awkward stride after letting down by the runner-up hindered his chances of winning, but nothing really worried the winner as he ran over the line to win by a half-length.
Adrian Bott was on course to see Prost's win and he spoke post-race.
“We're in a great position, had some great support this year and we've got some lovely colts and Prost is a great example of that going forward,” Bott said.
“Really strengthened up and mentally we saw a real professional performance from him there.
“After the Breeder's Plate, discussing the options, being a Magic Millions purchase he had the option of going up there.
“But speaking with Kia Ora and everyone involved with this colt we wanted to give him the right time and just have a real good run up and a real good lead up towards the Golden Slipper.
“Obviously today was very important for him to get some prize money and get a good win on the board.
“We've got a bit of time now to work out what the path is going to be, how many runs he needs. But certainly, we'll see him again and all roads will be leading towards the Golden Slipper.”
Tim Clark has ridden most of the Waterhouse & Bott two-year-olds and he will have a choice to make in a few weeks.
“He put the writing on the wall with his run in the Breeder's (Plate) and then he's come back and trialled nicely on both occasions, so he looked ready to go,” Clark said.
“He began well from the inside and when the other horse was racing keenly outside me, I let him go and it gave him a chance to have something to chase.
“He was probably a sitting shot the last 100m but to his credit he pulled out plenty and held his rivals at bay.
“Their two-year-olds are airborne at the moment.
“It makes our job a lot easier when you're getting legged onto these jets every week and you've just got to point them.
“They've got a good bunch of two-year-olds, and they get a good line on them and they're going well.”
Prost is a +1600 chance in Golden Slipper futures markets with online bookmakers.