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By Ray Hickson

Classy stayer Vauban is so well suited in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Asahi Super Dry Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) that co-trainer Adrian Bott says he must have the edge over emerging stablemate Elamaz as the stable eyes a threepeat in the race.

Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Bott and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse have won three of the last five editions of the Kingston Town, including the past two with Eliyass and Just Fine, and Waterhouse another five this century.

Vauban, $2.30 with TAB on Friday, had his first start below 2000m when he ran third in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) two weeks ago and Bott said it couldn’t have been a better springboard into his campaign.

He does remind that the Kingston Town isn’t Vauban’s main aim but with 57kg and another favourable draw he says the eight-year-old is easy to like.

“This isn’t his grand final by any means, he’s still early days in his preparation, but it is a good stepping stone,’’ Bott said.

“He’s very well placed and has a lot of things in his favour.

“I was impressed with the way he stuck on over the mile first-up. Even the way he handled himself on the day was encouraging.”

The gelding was able to match motors with Ceolwulf in the sprint home in the Chelmsford, running the equal fastest last 200m of 11.62, which Bott said stands him in good stead to go up in distance.

His only Australian win to date came over the 2000m in the Sky High Stakes in the autumn.

“That was an encouraging sign to see him nice and strong through the line,’’ Bott said.

“He’s come back a bit sharper and seems well in himself, naturally the 2000m will be better for him so we’d like to see some continued progression from him.”

Elamaz profiles a lot like the recent Waterhouse/Bott winners of this race and he resurfaces after scoring an all the way win in the McKell Cup back in June in what was his first run beyond a mile.

Bott said it was decided to resume at the same distance based on how he has returned from the freshen up.

“He’s looked like he’s in need of that ground off his couple of trials hence kicking him off over the 2000m,’’ he said.

“He’s still lightly raced and we’re learning about him. It’s an important race for him as we decide which way we go deeper into the campaign.

“He was ridden a bit out of his comfort zone (in the McKell Cup), it was his first attempt at 2000m and first start in Australia so he had plenty against him.”

Group 1 winner Royal Patronage will commence his spring in the Group 3 $250,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) where he’ll carry 61kg and jump from an outside gate.

But there’ll be at least eight scratchings come race morning and Bott elected to tackle the shorter race in preference to the mile of the 7 Stakes.

Royal Patronage has won his past two first-up attempts and Bott says he’s appreciated an extended break since racing in Hong Kong in late April.

“He seems in really good order, his trials have been good and he’s building up nicely,’’ he said.

Vauban runs third at Randwick on September 6

“Not sure whether he’s as forward as he has been in his last preparations but in saying that he’s probably snuck under our radar first-up before as well.

"He can do that a bit to you but he’s building up nicely.”

Adrian Bott on Dominetta (race 4): “She was excellent first-up, the 1200m was a bit short for her and she’ll improve up to the 1400m. She held a nice spot there, they were just a bit sharp for her over the 1200m so stepping up she’ll be able to be a bit handier.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting