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By Ray Hickson

The timing is right to test Bear On The Loose’s distance limits at Rosehill on Saturday and co-trainer Adrian Bott says he’s had the right build up for the Listed $200,000 Cincotta Chemist Winter Cup (2400m).

While the five-year-old tackles the trip for the first time, stablemate Sir Lucan faces the job of staging a form reversal to win the race for the second successive year.

Bear On The Loose has had a three week gap since his gutsy second over 2000m behind Glory Daze on a heavy track at Randwick and Bott said it’s been beneficial to give him time to get over the run.

“I thought he stuck on well in that race and the form out of the race has been good,’’ Bott said.

“He’s shown signs he should be able to see out the 2400m on what we’ve seen. He seems very well in himself and certainly hasn’t taken a backward step.”

Bott expects Bear On The Loose, $3.60 with TAB on Friday, to lead the Winter Cup field as he’s done in his three runs this preparation.

“He’s been able to do that over the shorter trips so stepping up I think he should be able to race that way as well,’’ he said.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team has won two of the past four Winter Cups and last year Sir Lucan backed up a week after finishing ninth in the Lord Mayors Cup to win Winter Cup.

Bear On The Loose runs second at Randwick on May 24

The gelding finished last in the Lord Mayors Cup when resuming two weeks ago and Bott said he will need to turn things around quickly after disappointing fresh.

Only one horse has notched back-to-back Winter Cup wins and that was Royal Bark back in 1962 and 1963.

“He probably got back further than we anticipated but he will be better than that,’’ he said.

“He’s at his preferred trip now and does improve second-up, he seems to have trained on nicely but I still feel he’ll race a bit better deeper into the campaign.”

Lightly raced import Assailant is a horse Bott expects to improve with racing and was more than satisfied with his local debut last month.

He ran third over 1550m at Canterbury behind Hell To Pay and Bott said it was a good platform to step off into the TAB Handicap (2000m).

“It was an excellent run and he’s stepping out to his right distance which is what he’s been looking for,’’ he said.

“It was a fast run race and had him under a bit of pressure but the natural tempo of this race will suit him better.

“He’s under the right conditions, on a bigger track, and he’s better for the run now in of his fitness. He’s a nice progressive horse who looks well placed.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting