Connections have elected to withdraw Raphael’s Cat from the 2015 Run To The Rose that will be held at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

Japonisme (pictured) is now an even money favourite in the 2015 Run To The Rose following the scratching of Raphael’s Cat. Photo by: Steve Hart

Raphael’s Cat was the likely leader in the Run To The Rose and trainer Gai Waterhouse was confident that the Redoute’s Choice colt was a genuine winning chance in the Group 2 event following his impressive win in the More Than Ready At Vinery Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on August 19, but he was a late scratching this morning and will head to Melbourne for the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 12.

“He is good,” Waterhouse told Sky Racing HQ.

“He heads to Melbourne and he is going to run in the Danehill.

“There was much discussion about whether he was going to run today and I was kicking up for today because there is only six or seven horses in the field and I am a believer in taking the spoils when they are on your doorsteps.”

While Waterhouse is now left without a runner in The Run To The Rose, she will still have a talented three-year-old in action at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon, with River Wild set to start the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1400m) as a dominant favourite.

River Wild made his racing debut with a dominant six lengths victory in the Markery Saddlery Maiden Handicap (1300m) at Kembla Grange on August 15 and Waterhouse believes that the son of Fastnet Rock will win in very similar fashion this afternoon.

“He will win again and he will by a fat margin,” Waterhouse said.

“He will be too good for them.”

Following the scratching of Raphael’s Cat, Japonisme is now a dominant favourite in the 2015 Run To The Rose and is available at an even money quote from Skyline Stakes winner Exosphere ($3.70), the undefeated Press Statement ($6.50), Team Snowden-trained Redzel ($8) and Godolphin-owned Holler ($9.50).