Ecuador eyeing options
THE Waterhouse/Bott stable is toying with racing Queensland-bound Ecuador on a rare seven-day back-up after his second in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old has had his runs spaced as he races in the twilight of his career but Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott are considering winding the clock back to 2016.
Ecuador managed a week between races with ease that autumn when he regrouped from a sixth in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) to win the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) the following weekend at Rosehill.
The gelding was found a little wanting over the latter stages of the Hawkesbury Gold Cup on Saturday but hung on to run second to Kingsguard.
Ecuador is among 11 nominations for Saturday’s Lord Mayor’s Cup and Bott says the stable will accept today and then make a final decision.
“He’s better suited to stepping up in trip at some point, whether it’s this weekend or we look to Queensland,” Bott said.
Ecuador’s stablemate Sedanzer would still come to Queensland despite her firstup ninth at Hawkesbury.