Surprise Supply
ADRIAN Bott never envisaged Supply And Demand would make it to a Grafton Cup this winter and the promising stayer may even make it to the spring if he can win again today.
The four-year-old has been a revelation this winter, winning his past three starts in arrogant fashion, including his first stakes win in the Listed Caloundra Cup 12 days ago.
He already has an impressive resume – six wins from 16 starts – and will bid to take his career earnings beyond $500,000 in today’s $160,000 Grafton Cup (2350m). Not bad for a horse who was battling to win a race at the Sydney midweeks earlier this year.
“It’s been quite amazing to witness his progression and see him develop as a racehorse,” co-trainer Bott said.
“He just seems to be going from strength to strength and I would like to think he can hopefully continue that upward spiral. That’s why we’ve let him dictate where to next through this preparation.
“Going back at the start of the campaign we probably wouldn’t have envisaged him progressing this far this quickly.”
Supply And Demand has drawn the outside barrier in today’s Grafton Cup but Bott was quick to point out he was no one-trick pony.
“He is a very versatile horse and he has the tactical speed to be able to lead, or we’ve seen him produce a good turn of foot when necessary if he needs to take a sit,” he said.
“We will just have to see how the race pans out but the horse is in such good order and he is really thriving on his work and his racing.”
Supply And Demand is rated a $2.90 favourite to win the Grafton Cup and could be headed for bigger things if he salutes today.
“He has had a number of runs this time in but when they’re in form it’s important to capitalise on that,” Bott said.
“We’re very mindful he has been up quite a long time but in saying that he has taken no harm from racing and he only seems to be improving and getting stronger.
“If all goes well and he happens to come out of (the Grafton Cup well), who is to say he can’t be competitive in a couple of the feature races early in the spring?”
Meanwhile, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable will also saddle up Runaway in the 2YO Plate (1200m) at Grafton today.
The two-year-old colt put in an eye-catching debut when beaten just two lengths behind Overshare over 1100m at Canterbury last month.
“It looks a lovely race for him and I think it will prove to be a good form race out of Canterbury,” Bott said.
“He is going to be a horse that will be a really nice milemiddle distance horse in time.
“With that being said, it was a really impressive debut at Canterbury and while 1200m will be short of his best (distance), I would like to think the horse has a class edge.
“Hopefully if he can reproduce that run at Canterbury he goes close to winning.”