Tulloch Lodge duo Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are keen to give The Three Hundred a return shot at stakes company after he strung together his second successive win at Warwick Farm.
The trainers held the horse in high enough regard to run him in black-type company at two, and while he didn’t feature then, Bott said the three-year-old had gained a new level of confidence since breaking his maiden earlier this month.
The Three Hundred makes it back-to-back wins for @GaiWaterhouse1 and @clarkyhk 👏@aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/tXrswRmiJM
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 23, 2024
“He is racing full of confidence, and we saw that in his work between runs,” Bott said.
“Physically, he looks in such great shape and it was going to take a really nice horse to beat him today. We were really confident with him coming here and it was good to see him run up to that work.
“He has always shown that ability all the way through. We have just had to be that little bit patient until he has fully matured.”
The Three Hundred ($6.50) shared the lead for much of the race and while briefly relinquishing it before the turn, he again wrested control at the top of the straight and speared clear to win the Schweppes Handicap (1400m) by 1-1/4 lengths over Komodo Dragon ($2.40 fav).
Bott said they would look for a loftier target while the horse was going so well.
“I think we can aim up to stakes level at some point,” he said.
“There might be a nice opportunity late in the carnival to try to get a stakes race with him.
“I do think he will get over a little bit further as well, so there is certainly some more progression.”
Winning jockey Tim Clark echoed Bott’s sentiment that The Three Hundred had turned the corner since his last start win and expected him to improve again once he stretched to a mile and further.
“He was great again today. Obviously, he needed to be better and he was much better, and he’s on his way now,” Clark said.
“He has got a good style. He rests well during the run and he was as strong as anything on the line. A mile and further won’t be beyond him.”