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By Ray Hickson

An Everest campaign will be Plan A for multi-million dollar mare Alcohol Free and co-trainer Adrian Bott has pinpointed the fork in the road as next month’s Sheraco Stakes.

The six-year-old hasn’t yet been confirmed as a runner in the $20 million TAB Everest but she is owned by slot holder Yulong Investments so a pleasing return would all but secure her place.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Speaking on Sky Sports Radio, Bott said the Group 2 $300,000 Sheraco Stakes (1200m), for fillies and mares at set weights and penalties, run on September 9 at Rosehill will tell him and Gai Waterhouse whether Alcohol Free is suited to the TAB Everest or if she’s looking for more ground.

“At this stage she is going to head towards an Everest campaign,’’ Bott said.

“A positive run in that race and I think we can link into a race like the Premiere Stakes as a lead up to the Everest.

“So the timing will work well but that first-up race will be crucial as to whether we stick to a sprinting campaign or look to stretch her out a little bit later in the preparation.”

Alcohol Free arrived in Australia earlier this year to some fanfare given the (AU)$10 million that Yulong paid to purchase the multiple UK Group 1 winner.

She didn’t perform to expectation at her only local start in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) on April 8 where she started $3.70 and raced handy before weakening to run tenth behind Atishu.

Bott said Alcohol Free, currently $26 with TAB in the Everest run at Randwick on October 14, is set to trial within the next couple of weeks and seems to have appreciated some time to settle in.

“She’s back in really good shape, we’re very happy with her,’’ he said.

“She’s looked pretty sharp in what we’ve done to date. We’re yet to fully test her but the lead up signs have been really encouraging.

“She’s got plenty of speed about her as we’ve seen but she can just do her work so effortlessly and run good times without looking like she’s doing too much.

“She’s proven she can be effective over a testing mile there in Europe so no doubt that will help her down here be a little bit versatile.

“But having a nice break and being a bit fresh, and training a bit of speed back into her legs, she’s really been able to sharpen up and hopefully we can see that when she resumes.”

Four horses have been locked in for the TAB Everest – defending champ Giga Kick (James Harron Bloodstock), TJ Smith winner I Wish I Win (Trackside Media), Everest placegetter Mazu (The Star & Arrowfield) and rising star Think About It (Newgate/GPI).

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