Gai Waterhouse-trained Aussies Love Sport will return to the races in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday after missing the Group 1 Golden Rose(1400m) due to injury.
Aussies Love Sport will face a strong field in the Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Aussies Love Sport was well backed to give Waterhouse her first Golden Rose victory but was scratched on the morning of the race because of a wound to his offside gaskin that the leading trainer had failed to report before his win in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
The Redoute’s Choice colt took part in an exhibition gallop between races at Royal Randwick on Saturday and did enough to convince connections that he was fit enough to contest the Group 2 event this weekend.
Aussies Love Sport is set to face a couple of colts backing up from the Golden Rose, with Criterion and Eurozone both included in the Stan Fox Stakes nominations.
Criterion won the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old but has failed to fire since returning to the races this preparation.
The Sebring colt finished eleventh in the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) and raced greenly during the Golden Rose, disappointing trainer David Payne.
Payne has set the three-year-old for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) but revealed yesterday that he will only push on to that race if Criterion produces an improved effort on Saturday.
Team Cummings-trained Eurozone was undefeated heading into The Run To The Rose and finished a disappointing eighth before battling home gamely to finish sixth in The Golden Rose.
Eurozone has been included in the first acceptances for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) but is unlikely to contest the race, with Bart Cummings indicating yesterday that the three-year-old would be sent to the spelling paddock after he runs on Saturday.
Peter Moody-trained Stamina, who was the favourite for the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle last Wednesday before being scratched due to a slight cough, has been included in the nominations for the Stan Fox Stakes while Patinack Farm owned-Hooked and the Anthony Cummings- trained duo of Best Case and Thunder Fantasy are also set to contest the $250,000 race.
