By Brad Gray

 

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are starting to assemble their autumn team and two gallopers set to make their mark are sprinting mare English and Frankel filly Woman.

 

English is back in the stable after a disappointing spring carnival by her high standards but it’s worth noting that all of her best form has been in the autumn months, starting with her two-year-old campaign which saw her run second to Vancouver in the Golden Slipper before winning the G1 All Aged Stakes twelve months later.

 

“It’s early days for her. She is doing a bit of light pace work but we’re delighted with the way she has returned. She’s strengthened up and put on good condition,” said Bott.

 

“She didn’t quite come up in the spring and unfortunately we didn’t quite get the results but the autumn last campaign was her carnival and hopefully that can be the same again this year.”

 

Meanwhile, Woman, sired by superstar Frankel and out of eight-time Group One winner More Joyous, has come through her first trial 10 days ago in good order and will step out again at the Randwick trials next Friday.

 

“She was very good the other day in her first public appearance,” Bott said.

 

“She is a really nice style of filly and is just learning what it is all about. We’ll give her another trial and that should see her ready to go to the races.”

 

Another horse you’ll likely see step out at the same set of trials is talented three-year-old Diamonds Are. He has been unsighted since losing on protest to Russian Revolution on debut, who subsequently won another three straight including the G2 Roman Consul beating Astern. It hasn’t been injury that has kept the son of Foxwedge away from the track though.

 

“He is a talented horse,” said Bott.

 

“He has just been an immature type and needed time to strengthen up. We’ve given him plenty of time and he has come back in well.”