Nostradamus made a winning start to his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the San Domenico Stakes and will have the chance to stamp himself as the outright Golden Rose Stakes favourite when he contests the 2014 The Run To The Rose at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Nostradamus started his spring preparation with a strong win in the San Domenico Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Nostradamus jumped from the gates strongly in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16 and he was settled in a lovely position by jockey James McDonald in the early stages of the race before he showed an impressive turn-of-foot to record a strong victory from the fast-finishing Washington Heights and Law.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes told TVN that Nostradamus had taken plenty of improvement out of his strong San Domenico Stakes victory and he said that he can’t fault the Medaglia D’Oro colt heading into the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) this weekend.

“He won very good and he did everything right,” Hawkes said of Nostradamus’ performance in the San Domenico Stakes.

“He hit the line solid and we feel there is a lot of improvement there.

“Going forward with The Run To The Rose he is meeting much the same competition and hopefully he can have a nice run again.

“It is over 1200, but the way that he hit the line first-up suggests that he will want further.

“He looks good in the coat, we think that he has improved and his work has been sharp.

“We can’t fault and hopefully we can draw a nice barrier as always.

“He is there and obviously we are looking forward to it.”

Nostradamus will be having just his fifth race start in The Run To The Rose after stamping himself as a colt to watch with three credible performances, including a seventh place finish in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), as a juvenile.

Va Pensiero is the only horse to have completed the San Domenico Stakes/ The Run To The Rose double, while no horse in history has won the San Domenico Stakes, The Run To The Rose and the Golden Rose.

Nostradamus ($8) is currently on the fourth line of the 2014 Golden Rose Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes Australia, along with Chris Waller-trained Brazen Beau ($8), while J.J. Atkins winner Almalad ($6) and Silver Shadow Stakes winner Bring Me The Maid are currently locked in a battle for favouritism.