The 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes nominations have been released and star three-year-old Exosphere is set to be the headline act in the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington on Saturday.
Exosphere has the chance to record a second win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Exosphere started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a fast-finishing win in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 29 and he was able to replicate that performance with dominant victories in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12 and the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.
The Lonhro colt is set to start the Coolmore Stud Stakes as a dominant favourite, but trainer John O’Shea revealed yesterday that he is unsure whether the three-year-old will take on the older horses in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) a week later.
Another horse that is set to take winning form into the Coolmore Stud Stakes is Keen Array, who has recorded four wins from five race starts this preparation.
Keen Array started his campaign with dominant wins at Geelong and Pakenham before he was beaten as a short-priced favourites at Caulfield on September 19, but he was able to return to winning form at Moonee Valley on October 2 and he took out the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 14.
Leading trainer Chris Waller took out the 2014 edition of the Coolmore Stud Stakes with Brazen Beau and finished second with Delectation and he is set to have two runners in this year’s race in the form of Counterattack and Japonisme.
Counterattack earnt himself a trip to Melbourne for the Coolmore Stud Stakes when he hit the line strongly to take out the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17, while Japonisme scored an upset win in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15, but he was no match for Exosphere in the Run To The Rose or the Roman Consul Stakes.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes nominations is star Singapore-based galloper Super One.
Super One was the champion two-year-old in Singapore and he recorded four race wins from as many starts by a combined total of 16 lengths, but he was beaten by General Jackson in the Apache Cat Classic (1000m) at Cranbourne on October 11.
Black Vanquish, Dal Cielo, Hellbent, Kinglike, Lake Geneva, Mogador, Prompt Return, Ragazzo Del Corsa, Ready For Victory, Sebring Sun, Spill The Beans and Zara Bay round out the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes nominations.
You can score the best odds for every horse in the Coolmore Stud Stakes field with Ladbrokes, who will offer Best Tote or Starting Price +20% for every single race at Flemington on Saturday.
