Experience has English primed for best

ADRIAN Bott is confident English’s first campaign in Melbourne a year ago has set the foundation for a muchimproved spring showing.

The mare steps out in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley tonight, her first run since finishing sixth in the $10 million Everest. The Darley Classic is also on her schedule.

English tackled the same two-race program as a fouryear-old and co-trainer Bott said she was now more mature.

“Physically she’s strengthened up a lot but the biggest improvement is we’ve seen her really mature mentally,” he said.

“Having had that experience of travelling before has her in really good stead, she’s a lot more capable of handling a preparation away from Sydney now,” Bott said.

English dead-heated for seventh in last year’s Manikato, two lengths behind the winner Rebel Dane.

However, she struggled in the Group 1 Darley over the same distance a fortnight later down the straight at Flemington.

Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said English had recovered well from the Everest and he expected her to maintain her form through to the Darley Classic on November 11.

“The Everest didn’t take anything out of her, it didn’t knock her around, so she’s bounced out of that and her work has been pleasing,” he said.