An interrupted autumn campaign left Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott lamenting what might have been with Newgate Bloodstock and China Horse Club-owned colt North England.

Highly rated in markets for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) since his first public trial on September 23, the son of the stable’s 2020 Golden Slipper winner Farnan suffered a setback that forced him to miss his initial autumn run.

Before that, he had taken out the $1 million Group 3 Golden Gift (1100m), and co-trainer Adrian Bott said he is hoping for a smoother lead-up this spring.

“He will have a couple of trials and we’ll see him resume in the San Domenico Stakes,” Bott said.

“He had a bit of an interrupted campaign last time heading towards the Slipper but hopefully this time through we can have a bit of luck.”

North England had his first public appearance for the new preparation on Tuesday morning at Rosehill in a 900m Group trial, where he stuck on well for a narrow third under regular jockey Tim Clark.

After missing the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) due to unsatisfactory bloodwork, he returned to finish a game sixth in the Golden Slipper second-up and later capped his season with success in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes.

“He still managed to finish his two-year-old season strongly, winning both the Group Three Golden Gift and Group Three Kindergarten Stakes, so we’re really pleased with what he achieved,” Bott said.

Waterhouse & Bott have traditionally kicked off their top three-year-olds in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m), having won the race last year with Storm Boy and in 2021 with subsequent Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) winner In The Congo.

This year’s edition of the San Domenico Stakes will be run on August 30 at Rosehill Gardens.