Australia: Bottega should find going easier in Newmarket Handicap
Bottega raced without success against excellent company in big-prize races in Australia last October and November.
Bottega was fifth in the $5.2 million Golden Eagle Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Oct. 31 behind Colette, who won the Group 2 Apollo Stakes on Feb. 13 in her next start.
In the $730,200 The Gong Stakes at a mile at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Nov. 21, Bottega was 11th of 16. While race winner Archedemus and second-place Dawn Passage have not raced since, third-place finisher Thank it Over won the Group 3 Liverpool Stakes at Royal Randwick last Saturday.
Bottega will have his 2021 debut in Friday’s Group 3 Newmarket Handicap at seven furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse. Bottega, a colt trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, was the 4-1 second choice in a field of 12 as a Wednesday behind 7-2 Cascadian, who has not raced since a fifth-place finish in The Gong Stakes.
While Cascadian had a better showing in The Gong Stakes, and was second in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on Oct. 31, there are circumstances that favor Bottega in the $124,656 Newmarket Handicap.
Cascadian drew the rail, which could lead to a tricky trip in a big field for a closer. Trained by James Cummings, Cascadian will carry top weight of 130 pounds, while Bottega has a friendlier assignment of 119 pounds.
Bottega is not the most consistent runner, having won 3 of 14 starts. The colt was second or third in three group level stakes in 2019 and 2020. In the Newmarket Handicap, Bottega has a favorable draw in post 8 and will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, who leads all riders in the state of New South Wales with earnings of approximately $8.4 million since the Australian season began in August.
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Similar to Bottega, the stakes winners Gem Song and Outrageous have been entered in the Newmarket after recent losses.
Gem Song, a two-time Group 3 winner in 2019, was last of 16 in the Golden Eagle, but a more promising fourth in his only subsequent start, the Group 3 Southcross Stakes at six furlongs at Randwick on Feb. 13.
Outrageous won the Group 3 Festival Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 28, but is winless in his last two starts. Outrageous, who is quick enough to race near the front, was seventh in a field of 16 in the $770,200 Magic Millions Cup, a sale progeny race at seven furlongs at Gold Coast Racecourse on Jan. 16. He could be one to catch in the Newmarket Handicap.
The eight-race Newcastle program begins at 9:25 p.m., Eastern, or 6:25 p.m., Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.