Demand for Supply to flow again

The usually consistent, reliable gelding ran the worst race of his career last start in the Railway Stakes in Perth, failing to be a rival to the line in the Group 1 race. His official losing margin was a whopping 49.75 lengths!

This kingsize flop was less than a month ago but such is the respect for Supply And Demand he is likely to be favourite at $ 3.50 with TAB Fixed Odds to quickly rebound from the Ascot disaster.

Adrian Bott, who co-trains Supply And Demand with Gai Waterhouse, conceded it is hard to find excuses for the poor Perth run.

“It is difficult to explain what was a very disappointing performance in Perth,’’ Bott said.

“He probably felt the firm track and maybe he didn’t travel that well, either.

“But since he has been back home, he is bright and healthy, he has settled in nicely and we really can’t fault him in anyway.’’

Bott said a strong track gallop at Randwick on Tuesday morning convinced him the gelding was ready to race at Warwick Farm.

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Supply And Demand worked over 1200m on the dirt, recording 1m 17.1s including a brilliant final 400m in 22.31s. He also galloped strongly at Randwick.

“His work on Tuesday morning gave us a lot of confidence going into Saturday,’’ Bott said.

“I think he should be assessed on his first two runs this campaign and not what happened last start. His first two runs back were super, they were very, very strong efforts.’’

Supply And Demand reeled off four successive wins to end his four-year-old season including the Caloundra Cup and Grafton Cup before resuming with a fast-finishing second to stablemate Cabeza De Vaca at Randwick.

He then contested the Group 3 Chatham Stakes during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington and again hit the line strongly for a close second to Helova Street prior to his Railway Stakes failure.

“The slight query about (Saturday’s) race is he is coming back to 1400m at this point of his preparation,’’ Bott said.

“But hopefully we have done enough to freshen him up. He has his share of weight but he is a class horse.’’

Supply And Demand is the only Warwick Farm runner for the Waterhouse-Bott stable but they do have three starters at Moonee Valley tomorrow including promising stayer Imperial Aviator in the Bertocchi Christmas Masterpiece Handicap (2500m).

Imperial Aviator, who began his race career in England, was impressive scoring his first win down under at Rosehill last start over 2400m.

“We have sent Imperial Aviator down to Melbourne to give him a preparation there ahead of the spring carnival next year,’’ Bott said.

“Because we have the Flemington stables, it is a huge asset to us and we can send a horse down there, giving them experience and exposure to the travel and a different environment.

“This is only Imperial Aviator’s second Australian preparation and his two runs back this time in have been very good with a second at 2000m then to win second-up at 2400m, that is not easy to do.

“It takes a particular class of horse to do what he has done and we are hoping he can develop into a Cups-style of horse next spring.’’

Bott is also starting in-form filly Aeecee Tong De in the Gold Carat (1200m) and Multitude lines up in the Summer Membership Handicap (2040m).

“Aeecee Tong De is a nice sharp filly who has really strengthened up this time in work,’’ Bott said.

“She has always had speed and precocity but didn’t have the physical strength until now. She is developing into a promising filly.

“We worked her at Moonee Valley last Tuesday and Stephen Baster said her gallop was very good. Imperial Aviator had a look around the track, too.’’

Bott said Multitude has been improved by one run back from a short let-up and is expecting a competitive effort.

Meanwhile, the stable’s glamour three-year-old filly and brilliant Victoria Oaks winner Pinot will return to training next week as she prepares for an autumn campaign aimed at the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick during The Championships in April.

“Pinot’s had a good break but it is a bit of a tight turn around off a big Oaks campaign,’’ Bott admitted.

“It is not an easy task but if we can bring her back and she can resume where she left off in the spring, it will be very exciting.’’