John Bateman gambles on It’s A Lottery

Goulburn trainer John Bateman is hoping history repeats when It’s A Lottery makes his Sydney debut in the Highway Handicap at Rosehill.

Bateman claimed the corresponding race 12 months ago over 1800 metres with Erika, and he considered It’s A Lottery a realistic chance of matching the mare’s exploits on Saturday.

An impressive last-start win over 2000m in Bathurst on June 3 convinced Bateman to take on a field that is missing runners from trainers Matt Dale and Matthew Dunn who have 19 wins between them.

Three-year-old It’s A Lottery has had seven starts over a spaced campaign and has not been outside the top three, encouraging Bateman ahead of It’s A Lottery’s step up in class.

“He’s been consistent and he’s going to be a better horse when he comes back next time if he gets a bit tougher and fills out a little bit,” Bateman said.

“His brother Canny Ballad also ran 10 furlongs (2000m) but he was a different horse.

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“He wasn’t big either, but he was real tough and won an Albury Cup.

“This horse hasn’t got the dash Canny had. This fellow is more of a grinder.”

Canny Ballad was trained by the late Guy Walter for whom Bateman worked for many years.

Bateman, who has a dozen horses in work, is pleased to have Tim Clark riding at 53.5kg, 4kg less than It’s A Lottery carried at Bathurst.

“The drop’s important and Timmy’s probably the best jockey that can ride that sort of weight,” he said.

Clark will be instructed to have It’s A Lottery in the first half of the field from a wide gate and boot for home at the 600m mark.

“You’ve got to get going then because he’s a bit dour. There’s no sprint in him,” Bateman said.