Following a gutsy performance in the Winter Cup, Bear On The Loose will line up in Saturday’s Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast, with confidence high in the Tulloch Lodge camp.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper was brave when stepping up to 2400m last time, leading throughout before being collared late by Sir Lucan.

Adrian Bott believes the run confirmed Bear On The Loose is a genuine stayer and expects another bold showing.

“For his first attempt at the trip, his run was excellent,” Bott said.

“There were questions over whether he could get the trip and I think he relishes it. He ran it out very strongly.

“He was there for a long way and it took a horse who’d had a better run in transit and had the sit on him to run him down. He was unlucky to get beaten.”

Instead of racing in last weekend’s McKell Cup or Stayer’s Cup in Sydney, the gelding will benefit from a three-week gap between runs before heading north.

Stablemate The Three Hundred will also be in action in the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m), where the team is hopeful of an improved performance following a luckless outing at Ipswich.

“He missed the start and got too far back. The tight track, he didn’t really appreciate, and from where he was it was always going to be difficult,” Bott said.

“But the last furlong of his race was pretty good.

“The 1600 will suit. Hopefully he breaks cleanly, puts himself in the race and he will be much more effective.”

Another stakes victory would further cement Waterhouse and Bott’s record-breaking season, with Bott acknowledging the milestone.

“If we’re trying to find areas to focus on to improve each season, stakes wins is what we all strive for so I guess that’s a good indicator for us and we’ll try to keep topping it again next year,” he said.

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