Latest news with #BearOnTheLoose
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Grafton Cup the ideal chance for Bear On The Loose to end winless streak
Like his name suggests, he's been on the loose trying to snap a winning drought that's stretched for more than a year. Thursday's feature Grafton Cup presents an ideal chance to restore that winning feeling. Bear On The Loose, a tough and still lightly raced five-year-old in the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable at Randwick, hasn't won since a debut Australian win in a BM 78 Hcp over 1800m at Rosehill in June 2024. That front-running effort in heavy going came nearly nine months after his last UK start, an 85-rating win to cap three victories in four outings before he was brought to Australia with a growing staying reputation. But stop-start campaigns and frustration kicked in through the second half of last year, with Bear On The Loose placed only once in four more starts up to group 3 level. He was then spelled before returning in autumn via a series of quiet trials, and looked primed for a big prep when he was edged out by a nose first-up at Hawkesbury in a strong BM 94 over a mile. Loading Since then, though, he has beaten all but the winner in four of his five runs, including the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill and Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast. Yet, Bear On The Loose has never been fitter, and better placed to claim a feature Listed country cup, and return to winning ways. Opening around $5 in betting behind early favourite Belvedere Boys ($4.20), Bear On The Loose's biggest danger could well be another British import following a similar timeline.
The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Grafton Cup the ideal chance for Bear On The Loose to end winless streak
Like his name suggests, he's been on the loose trying to snap a winning drought that's stretched for more than a year. Thursday's feature Grafton Cup presents an ideal chance to restore that winning feeling. Bear On The Loose, a tough and still lightly raced five-year-old in the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable at Randwick, hasn't won since a debut Australian win in a BM 78 Hcp over 1800m at Rosehill in June 2024. That front-running effort in heavy going came nearly nine months after his last UK start, an 85-rating win to cap three victories in four outings before he was brought to Australia with a growing staying reputation. But stop-start campaigns and frustration kicked in through the second half of last year, with Bear On The Loose placed only once in four more starts up to group 3 level. He was then spelled before returning in autumn via a series of quiet trials, and looked primed for a big prep when he was edged out by a nose first-up at Hawkesbury in a strong BM 94 over a mile. Loading Since then, though, he has beaten all but the winner in four of his five runs, including the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill and Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast. Yet, Bear On The Loose has never been fitter, and better placed to claim a feature Listed country cup, and return to winning ways. Opening around $5 in betting behind early favourite Belvedere Boys ($4.20), Bear On The Loose's biggest danger could well be another British import following a similar timeline.
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tony McEvoy dreaming of Caulfield Cup after securing Caloudra Cup with Half Yours
Victorian trainer Tony McEvoy 's ultimate goal of taking Half Yours to the Caulfield Cup moved a step closer to reality on Saturday when the tough gelding emphatically won the $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast. McEvoy wasn't sure whether $3.50 favourite Half Yours would run the 2400m but those doubts were convincingly put to bed on a soft track at Corbould Park. The four-year-old finished 4½ lengths ahead of Bear On The Loose ($4.20), with the Tony Gollan-trained Felix The Scat ($17) another two lengths back, to rubberstamp his Caulfield Cup credentials. It is unlikely Half Yours will be ready for this year's $5m Caulfield Cup on October 18 but next year's edition will be front of mind for Tony McEvoy and his training partner and son Calvin. 'When you look at his form and how he's kept progressing, to come out and do what he did there (in the Caloundra Cup), I mean that was a dominant win,' Tony McEvoy said. 'Of course this is a long way from the Caulfield Cup, I'm a realist. 'But we've bought this horse (for $305,000), he's the right age and if he's well then we'll head down that path (Caulfield Cup) and we can always divert. 'There are so many options, aren't there? But you've got to have a target and the Caulfield Cup is a pretty good one to target.' Half?! It's all his today! Half Yours explodes away and leaves them standing in the Listed Caloundra Cup! ðŸ'¨ And it's a @SCTurfClub double to @mcevoymitchell and @AshMorgan6! 🙌 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025 Belmont Bloodstock and McEvoy Mitchell Racing purchased Half Yours last November, with the McEvoys taking over his training from Victoria's leading trainer Ciaron Maher. 'Ciaron was the underbidder and he was disappointed he didn't retain him,' McEvoy told Racenet earlier this week. 'He dropped the ball there but I'm glad he did.' It was a terrific day for winning Welsh-born jockey Ash Morgan, who had earlier saluted for the McEvoys on Mr Verse in the opening race. 'It was a muddily run race,' Morgan said about the Caloundra Cup, won last year by Angela Jones on Mission Of Love. 'Bailey (Wheeler on Nikau Spur) went for it in the race which allowed me to flow into it. 'When I went for him he exploded. I think he's a proper horse. 'His strength is that he relaxes really well in the run and has an explosive turn of foot. He put them to bed. 'Down in the weights, and there's a lot of good races over two miles, there's not really any ceiling for that. 'Thanks to Tony for four rides today and they were all immaculately prepared and they all ran enormous. 'My first rides for the stable and hopefully not my last.'
The Australian
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
2025 Winter Cup: Adrian Bott, Gai Waterhouse saddle up two
Bear On The Loose faces a stamina test and Sir Lucan is trying to snap a year-long losing streak. But trainer Adrian Bott has a quiet confidence in both imported geldings going into the Listed $200,000 Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. With co-trainer Gai Waterhouse in England trying to source their stable's next overseas equine recruits, Bott has kept famous Tulloch Lodge's winning momentum going in recent weeks. In fact, if Bear On The Loose or Sir Lucan can win the Winter Cup or the Waterhouse-Bott team has success at Eagle Farm, it will move the training partnership closer to a career-best season at Group and Listed level. There's less than two months of the 2024-25 season remaining but Waterhouse and Bott have already trained the winners of 33 stakes races and need just two more black type wins to equal their previous best return at feature race level they set last season. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Bear On The Loose early Winter Cup favourite at $3.60 with stablemate and defending champ Sir Lucan at $23. Bott also conceded Bear On The Loose was the stable's number one seed even though the five-year-old has never been out to 2400m in his 13 career starts. Bear On The Loose goes to the Winter Cup after three lead-up runs including a close second to Glory Daze over 2000m at Randwick last start. 'We feel he's racing well and the form out of his Randwick run is good,'' Bott said. 'He stuck on nicely that day on a very heavy track and the drier conditions (Rosehill is rated a soft 5) are going to be to his advantage.'' Bott said he expected Bear On The Loose to take up the frontrunning role. 'I think he is most likely to lead and hopefully he can roll along at his own tempo,'' Bott said. 'I'm confident he can run 2400m.'' • Archibald army turns up the heat in Winter Cup Sir Lucan has been winless since taking out the Winter Cup 12 months ago. But the seven-year-old returns to defend his 'title' and if successful will join Royal Bark (1962-63) as the only horses to win successive Winter Cups. The only other multiple Winter Cup winner was the remarkable Destiny's Kiss – but his wins were six years apart in 2013 and 2019. The former Joe Pride-trained stayer also ran second (2018) and third (2017) in the feature Rosehill staying race. Sir Lucan has only had the one start this campaign when he failed to beat a rival to the line in the Lord Mayor's Cup won by Touristic two weeks ago. Bott was cautiously optimistic about Sir Lucan's chances of staging the ultimate form reversal and going back-to-back in the Winter Cup. 'Sir Lucan got further back than expected first-up, he should improve again but is still working his way back to his peak,'' Bott said. 'He's worked well since and he's certainly capable of running well but Bear On The Loose is the stable's best chance.'' • Ray & Duff's best bets for Saturday: 'First-up run was hard to miss' Bott also has another import, Assailant, set to race competitively in the TAB Handicap (2000m). Assailant, by English super sire Dubawi, shaped promisingly at his Australian debut when third to Hell To Pay at Canterbury. 'It was a nice run from Assailant a couple of weeks ago and he's in great shape,'' Bott enthused. 'He should improve on a bigger track and more suitable distance. He's a young horse with a future.'' • EXPERT TIPS: Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday Bott, who also has topweight Ganbare resuming in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m), said Waterhouse will attend England's famous Goffs Sale next Monday on the eve of the Royal Ascot carnival. 'We are going through the catalogue for the Goffs Sale next week,'' Bott said. 'Gai will be there and we have had some luck at that sale. Pornichet came from that sale, as did New Endeavour.'' Pornichet won the Group 1 Doomben Cup a decade ago and New Endeavour, a last start winner of the Lord Mayor's Cup, is one of the main chances in the Group 2 $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'New Endeavour won really well last start and has trained on nicely,'' Bott said. 'He is going to this distance for the first time but that win will give him confidence.'' The Waterhouse-Bott stable is also represented in both Group 1 races with The Instructor lining up in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and Farnicle is in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m). • EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, race-by-race tips, analysis for Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm on Saturday The Instructor has won three of his four starts this campaign including the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone a month ago. Bott said it has been a deliberate tactic to keep The Instructor on the fresh side for the Stradbroke. 'The Instructor is in good form, he's deep into his campaign but he's well in himself,'' Bott said. 'The plan was if he ran well at Scone then the option was to go to the Stradbroke and we have given him a trial between runs. 'He gets in with a lightweight (52kg) so there's plenty to like about him. Jett Stanley has won on the horse, he knows him well, and he can ride the weight.'' • Jett Hatton's Stradbroke Handicap tips, runner-by-runner form analysis Bott also made a strong case for Farnicle after the two-year-old's good second to Cool Archie in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes. 'Farnicle keeps improving every time he steps out,'' Bott said. 'He is out of a good New Zealand mare (Jennifer Ecles who won the 2020 NZ Oaks) so there is plenty to suggest he will stay the trip. I think he will be suited by the mile.'' • Jett Hatton's JJ Atkins tips, runner-by-runner form analysis The Waterhouse and Bott-trained Campaldino is aiming for a fourth consecutive win in the Group 2 $400,000 Brisbane Cup (3200m). 'Campaldino has had a good grounding for 3200m,'' Bott said. 'The way he has been relaxing and racing gives you the confidence he will see it out.''
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Bear essential to Waterhouse and Bott's black type bid at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday
Bear On The Loose faces a stamina test and Sir Lucan is trying to snap a year-long losing streak. But trainer Adrian Bott has a quiet confidence in both imported geldings going into the Listed $200,000 Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. With co-trainer Gai Waterhouse in England trying to source their stable's next overseas equine recruits, Bott has kept famous Tulloch Lodge's winning momentum going in recent weeks. In fact, if Bear On The Loose or Sir Lucan can win the Winter Cup or the Waterhouse-Bott team has success at Eagle Farm, it will move the training partnership closer to a career-best season at Group and Listed level. There's less than two months of the 2024-25 season remaining but Waterhouse and Bott have already trained the winners of 33 stakes races and need just two more black type wins to equal their previous best return at feature race level they set last season. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Bear On The Loose early Winter Cup favourite at $3.60 with stablemate and defending champ Sir Lucan at $23. Bott also conceded Bear On The Loose was the stable's number one seed even though the five-year-old has never been out to 2400m in his 13 career starts. Bear On The Loose goes to the Winter Cup after three lead-up runs including a close second to Glory Daze over 2000m at Randwick last start. 'We feel he's racing well and the form out of his Randwick run is good,'' Bott said. 'He stuck on nicely that day on a very heavy track and the drier conditions (Rosehill is rated a soft 5) are going to be to his advantage.'' Bott said he expected Bear On The Loose to take up the frontrunning role. 'I think he is most likely to lead and hopefully he can roll along at his own tempo,'' Bott said. 'I'm confident he can run 2400m.'' WATCH OUT! There's a BEAR ON THE LOOSE! ðŸ�» The imported galloper makes an immediate impact in Australia, winning the 10th at Rosehill for @MyRacehorse & @GaiWaterhouse1 with @nashhot in the saddle. Goes $26 into $21 for the Caulfield Cup. — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024 • Sir Lucan has been winless since taking out the Winter Cup 12 months ago. But the seven-year-old returns to defend his 'title' and if successful will join Royal Bark (1962-63) as the only horses to win successive Winter Cups. The only other multiple Winter Cup winner was the remarkable Destiny's Kiss – but his wins were six years apart in 2013 and 2019. The former Joe Pride-trained stayer also ran second (2018) and third (2017) in the feature Rosehill staying race. Sir Lucan has only had the one start this campaign when he failed to beat a rival to the line in the Lord Mayor's Cup won by Touristic two weeks ago. Bott was cautiously optimistic about Sir Lucan's chances of staging the ultimate form reversal and going back-to-back in the Winter Cup. 'Sir Lucan got further back than expected first-up, he should improve again but is still working his way back to his peak,'' Bott said. 'He's worked well since and he's certainly capable of running well but Bear On The Loose is the stable's best chance.'' Sir Lucan is too good for them in the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill! ðŸ�† @aus_turf_club @GaiWaterhouse1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024 Bott also has another import, Assailant, set to race competitively in the TAB Handicap (2000m). Assailant, by English super sire Dubawi, shaped promisingly at his Australian debut when third to Hell To Pay at Canterbury. 'It was a nice run from Assailant a couple of weeks ago and he's in great shape,'' Bott enthused. 'He should improve on a bigger track and more suitable distance. He's a young horse with a future.'' No trouble here! Hell To Pay digs deep to win at Canterbury! ðŸ'° @AnnaRoper_ | @JohnOSheaRacing | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 28, 2025 • Bott, who also has topweight Ganbare resuming in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m), said Waterhouse will attend England's famous Goffs Sale next Monday on the eve of the Royal Ascot carnival. 'We are going through the catalogue for the Goffs Sale next week,'' Bott said. 'Gai will be there and we have had some luck at that sale. Pornichet came from that sale, as did New Endeavour.'' Pornichet won the Group 1 Doomben Cup a decade ago and New Endeavour, a last start winner of the Lord Mayor's Cup, is one of the main chances in the Group 2 $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'New Endeavour won really well last start and has trained on nicely,'' Bott said. 'He is going to this distance for the first time but that win will give him confidence.'' The Waterhouse-Bott stable is also represented in both Group 1 races with The Instructor lining up in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and Farnicle is in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m). The Instructor has won three of his four starts this campaign including the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone a month ago. Bott said it has been a deliberate tactic to keep The Instructor on the fresh side for the Stradbroke. 'The Instructor is in good form, he's deep into his campaign but he's well in himself,'' Bott said. 'The plan was if he ran well at Scone then the option was to go to the Stradbroke and we have given him a trial between runs. 'He gets in with a lightweight (52kg) so there's plenty to like about him. Jett Stanley has won on the horse, he knows him well, and he can ride the weight.'' • Jett Hatton's Stradbroke Handicap tips, runner-by-runner form analysis Bott also made a strong case for Farnicle after the two-year-old's good second to Cool Archie in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes. 'Farnicle keeps improving every time he steps out,'' Bott said. 'He is out of a good New Zealand mare (Jennifer Ecles who won the 2020 NZ Oaks) so there is plenty to suggest he will stay the trip. I think he will be suited by the mile.'' The Waterhouse and Bott-trained Campaldino is aiming for a fourth consecutive win in the Group 2 $400,000 Brisbane Cup (3200m). 'Campaldino has had a good grounding for 3200m,'' Bott said. 'The way he has been relaxing and racing gives you the confidence he will see it out.''
