Mr One Eleven will take his place in the 2014 Rosehill Guineas field after trainer John Sargent included the progressive gelding in the acceptances for the Group 1 event that will be run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Jay Ford will partner Mr One Eleven in the 2014 Rosehill Guineas this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Mr One Eleven was included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and a benchmark 65 event at Newcastle and Sargent told Sky Racing HQ this morning that he would throw the son of Shaft in the deep end at Group level.
Sargent rates Mr One Eleven a genuine chance in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) that will be run at Royal Randwick on April 19 and is hoping that the three-year-old can replicate the feat of Kirramosa, who came from benchmark races to win the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2400m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
“He is a progressive horse and he only has a win at Hawkesbury, but it was over 2200 metres so we know that he can stay,” Sargent said.
“He will have to step-up a level against Dissident and company, but Kirramosa did after coming off a win at Newcastle.
“Let’s hope he can hit the line strong on Saturday, that is all I want to see, and he will go to the Derby.
“He is a big, strong, lean horse and whatever he does this campaign he will get better at four.”
Mr One Eleven made his racing debut at Kembla Grange in March of last and failed to fire in three starts at provincial New South Wales venues during his autumn preparation.
The three-year-old returned to the races in November in the Dynamic Garage Doors Handicap (1300m) at Hawkesbury on November 22 and missed the start by six lengths, after getting his head across to the adjoining barrier, and had problems in the barrier again in the Vixen Handicap (1300m) at Kembla Grange on December 14, but was still able to record his maiden race win.
Mr One Eleven recorded a dominant win in the Curtis & Cloud Fashions Handicap (1650m) at Moruya on January 24 and was far from disgraced behind Order Of The Sun in the Klink Handicap (1600m) before earning himself start in the Rosehill Guineas with a win at Hawkesbury on February 27.
Dissident ($4.60) is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 Rosehill Guineas betting markets from Puccini ($4.80); with Mr One Eleven available at the lucrative odds of $51.
