280 nominations were received on Monday for Saturday’s Golden Rose Stakes raceday at Rosehill Gardens, pointing to a healthy spring carnival in NSW for 2013.
The $1 million feature race for three-year-old horses over 1400m has attracted the best young runners around NSW and Victoria with a field of 18 most likely to contest the Group 1 event.
2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach topped the order of entry with prizemoney in excess of $2.3 million while second on the order, 2013 Champagne Stakes and Sires’ Produce winner Guelph has prizemoney close to $1 million.
Gai Waterhouse, trainer of Overreach had placed a caveat on the filly’s participation in Saturday’s event after running second in a trial in August, but Overreach won a trial by 1-3/4 lengths on Monday at Royal Randwick which may alter the trainer’s plan.
The Tony Vasil trained Prince Harada currently holds favouritism in the early TAB fixed odds market at $4 while Fast ‘N’ Rocking and Zoustar, which are five and eight on the order of entry respectively, sit just below with early quotes at $5 and $8.
Champion hoop Hugh Bowman is expected to replace Steven Arnold aboard the Victorian-based colt Prince Harada giving him a great chance to win a fourth Golden Rose while Jim Cassidy confirmed he will ride Chris Waller’s contender Zoustar.
Elsewhere in the eight-race program, Rain Affair, Centennial Park and Riva De Lago are potential starters in the $200,000 Group 2-Theo Marks Stakes which has 11 nominations.
Rain Affair has had a blistering spring campaign to date, capturing the Group 3-Missile Stakes in August and placing third in the Group 2-Warwick Stakes one start later.
17 nominations were received for the $125,000 Group 3-Kingston Town Stakes which may see starters Less Is More and Prince Cheri pair off against veteran stayer Fiumicino.
The Group 3-Sheraco Stakes, restricted to fillies and mares, garnered 15 nominations with the Guy Walter-nominated Appearance the highest rated horse in the field.
The Golden Rose field will accept at 9am on Tuesday, September 10 with the barrier draw to be conducted at 11am at The Star, Pyrmont.
– Racing NSW
