Clayton Douglas as trainer won’t shy away from Adelaide, accepting the tough draw landed by his latest addition Mr Waterville.

The galloper bred in Ireland and initially managed by Chris Waller in Australia now eyes the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) on Morphettville’s track this Saturday.

For Douglas, the race this weekend acts as the closing trial prior to contesting the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) back at Morphettville on March 9.

Saturday sees Mr Waterville with gate 19, the outermost position, as Douglas stressed the importance of this run for the gelding’s build-up to the Adelaide Cup.

“Drawing 19 is not ideal but he’ll be in the middle to back-half of the field anyway and the 2600 (metres) should be ideal,” Douglas said.

“It’s a stepping stone to hopefully starting in the Adelaide Cup and he needs this grounding run to head there.

“The set-weights and penalties on Saturday makes it a suitable race.”

The trainer noted the other potential matching race in prep for the Adelaide Cup was Flemington’s 2500m win by Berkeley Square last Saturday, unlike the Listed Torney Cup (2500m) at Pakenham three days prior.

Mr Waterville posted a rallying third on debut for Douglas in the Colac Cup (2000m) dated February 6.

His early career in Ireland under Aidan O’Brien yielded two successes from seven goes, but he drew blanks in 20 subsequent starts for Waller, retaining ownership ties.

Waller counselled a stable change for the gelding, facilitated by Rod Lyons of Nature Strip ownership, bringing Mr Waterville to Douglas.

“He’s done some schooling down here and that seems to have helped,” Douglas said.

“Maybe if he doesn’t perform well in his next couple of flat runs, we might see him in a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool during the carnival.”

The gelding has a nomination standing for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick April 11.

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