Stonebrook steps up to regather momentum

While co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are enjoying a successful Melbourne spring carnival highlighted by Pinot’s VRC Oaks, closer to home Stonebrook will attempt to return to his winning ways at Rosehill.

The promising four-year-old won his first four starts but came undone over 1400 metres at Randwick on October 28.

Bott acknowledged bringing Stonebrook back from 1550m had been too challenging when he finished second to Passage Of Time.

He may have found the drop back to 1400 metres a bit too sharp for him,” Bott said.

Passage Of Time continued his preparation at Hawkesbury on Thursday when runner-up to Duca Valentinois in the Listed Ladies Day Cup.

Stonebrook tackles the Benchmark 83 Handicap (1500m) as the TAB’s favourite.

Waterhouse and Bott also considered running Stonebrook over 1800 metres at Rosehill but that distance is on hold.

“The 1500 is a more suitable option at this point in his preparation. No doubt we’ll get further and probably up to 2000 metres in time,” Bott said.

Cajetan also represents the stable at Rosehill, where the three-year-old attempts to remain unbeaten this preparation second-up in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).