Adrian Bott is confident that Lady Of Camelot can handle the challenge of taking on the mares in the Coolmore Classic, believing her spring campaign has prepared her well for the task. Despite not winning in her last eight starts since her Golden Slipper victory, she has consistently performed against top competition, including a strong showing in the Moir Stakes (1000m) and a competitive run in The Everest (1200m).
These performances have convinced Bott that Lady Of Camelot has a genuine chance to become the first three-year-old since Typhoon Tracy in 2009 to win the Coolmore Classic (1500m). “She has taken on the older horses before, open company, weight-for-age, so I don’t mind her taking on the open mares,” Bott said. “She’s right on track. She ran great the other day and has come on well. It looks a nice race for her.”
Lady Of Camelot ($7) will be one of three fillies in Saturday’s Group 1 field, alongside $2.20 favourite Lady Shenandoah, who narrowly beat her in the Surround Stakes (1400m), and Manaal ($23). This will be her first attempt beyond 1400m and her first return to Rosehill since her Golden Slipper win last year. “She’s won the Golden Slipper and Widden (Stakes) there, so she’s had a bit of experience and enjoys the track,” Bott said. “It was a really good effort (in the Surround Stakes). I thought she ran out the 1400 metres strongly.”
With Lazzura scratched to run in the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), Lady Of Camelot will jump from barrier 13 of 14 as she aims to become just the second Golden Slipper winner since Bounding Away (1987) to win the Coolmore Classic.