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By Ray Hickson

History will show this year’s Golden Slipper winner debuted just 43 days before the two-year-old classic but Adrian Bott says the early juvenile races remain an important preview to the season ahead.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Grant Guy)

Tulloch Lodge won six of the nine official two-year-old trials and send three colts and three fillies into the Group 3 features, the Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m) and Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Bott said the changing landscape of two-year-old racing is noticeable, with horses being held back more, but the six youngsters set to debut have shown their readiness to race.

“I thought they were consistent across the board and I thought they all performed well. I’d like to think we have a nice season ahead in that regard,’’ Bott said.

“It helps give you a benchmark for what you’ve produced and what you’re working with and we have a bit of confidence off the trials.

“It is still a proven way to have the horses prepared for the autumn.”

Last year’s official trials produced the likes of Golden Rose winner Beiwacht, who ran last in his heat, Queen Of Clubs, Memo, Raging Force, O’Ole, Tupakara and Grand Eagle.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are chasing a third straight Breeders’ Plate, King Kirk was successful last year and Espionage in 2023, with trial winners I’m Ya Huckleberry ($2.80 with TAB on Thursday), Eviction Notice ($2.50) and Revengeance ($9.50).

It’s a race that Waterhouse has a long history with dating back to High Rolling in 1998, and she’s won it with the likes of Pierro and Vancouver who went on to Slipper glory.

Bott said I’m Ya Huckleberry, a son of Home Affairs, is a straightforward colt and showed that as he won his 850m heat in 49.54.

“I think there’s a lot of depth to him, he did a great job the way he executed his trial,’’ he said.

“He has a nice action to him, he travelled well, he was lovely and settled. He came back and quickened when needed, he was strong late so I think there was a lot to like about him.”

Almost eight lengths was the winning margin Eviction Notice, a son of Slipper winner Stay Inside, put on his opposition though he ran only 0.01 seconds faster than his stablemate.

“I thought he was one of the standouts for the day,’’ Bott said.

“He ran good time, he was visually impressive in the way he did it. He’s a fast horse with some nice substance to him, he has a good constitution as well so it was hard to miss his performance.

“He’d been showing plenty at home, maybe the margin had he lined up in another event may have been different but he didn’t surprise us in the professionalism he showed.”

Revengeance, by Hellbent, is a work in progress according to Bott and he won his heat in the slower time of 50.38.

“He was still figuring it out on the day, he was challenged and really responded nicely,’’ he said.

“There was more to what we saw in his heat. When he puts it all together he’s going to be a nice horse, physically he’s a lovely strong individual.”

Platinum Jubilee gave Waterhouse and Bott their first Gimcrack Stakes in 2022 and they are represented by Home Invasion ($6), Shiki ($3.20) and The Wilding ($7) in the latest renewal.

Home Invasion, another by Home Affairs, won her heat by almost two lengths while Shiki recorded the fastest time of the morning as she won in 49.46 with The Wilding in third.

Eviction Notice wins a Kensington trial on September 22

“She went into it a bit fresh and did a few things wrong, she was in a rush to get it over and done with,’’ Bott said of Home Invasion.

“She’s shown sharp improvement off the back of the trial and is doing everything right at home.

“Shiki sat outside the lead and was impressive through the line. The Wilding led them up and was the ultimate professional, showed good speed and she stuck on well but might have bumped into a smart heat.”

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