The John O’Shea trained Impending will wear the blinkers for the first time when he lines up in the Group 2 $200,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Impending, above, will wear blinkers in the Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Impending ran a great race when he came from midfield to run third to stablemate Astern in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10 and O’Shea said that he has trained on very well.
“He really came out of the Golden Rose in great order,” O’Shea said.
“He’s been a bit unlucky, he’s been knocking on the door against tough opposition, the company isn’t as strong here and he worked very, very well at Osborne Park on Wednesday.”
Impending will be up against the Team Hawkes trained Divine Prophet again who finished a neck behind him in fourth position in the Golden Rose and the two colts are set to battle it out for favouritism in the betting ring.
“The Hawkes runner (Divine Prophet) started a good bit better than him in the market that day and that should always be taken into account when you are assessing your horse’s chances,” O’Shea said.
Divine Prophet again has a slight advantage in the betting with Ladbrokes.com.au assessing him as the $2.30 top pick for the Stan Fox Stakes ahead of Impending at $2.70.
In the small field that has been reduced to six runners following the withdrawal of the Chris Waller trained High Mist, Good Standing is on the third line of betting at $6.50.
Good Standing finished a close up fifth in the Golden Rose and is also in the final field for the Group 3 $175,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday but trainer James Cummings will wait until closer to the race before deciding which venue to race at.
O’Shea has a high opinion of Impending and said another good run could see the Lonhro colt take his place in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.
“Impending, he looks to be a little bit above average,” O’Shea said.
“We still have him in the nominations (Caulfield Guineas). If we are to run well we would give consideration to running him.”
Impending has only been to the races on four occasions for one win and three thirds but indicated with the way he went to the line in the Golden Rose that the 1600m of the Caulfield Guineas won’t be a problem.
James McDonald is back on Impending in the Stan Fox Stakes, taking over from Brenton Avdulla who has been aboard him for his last two starts.
Market order for the Stan Fox Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.30 Divine Prophet, $2.70 Impending, $6.50 Good Standing, $9 Mediterranean, $13 Thronum, $31 Cellarman.
