Rose Of Choice is currently available at 2015 Tattersall’s Tiara odds of $31,but co-trainer Peter Snowden is happy with the mare heading into the Group 1 event at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Damian Browne has been booked to ride Rose Of Choice in the 2015 Tattersall’s Tiara at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Rose Of Choice has not recorded a race win since she was transferred to the care of Team Snowden in September last year, but she has performed well without winning in both the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on May 16 and Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on June 6 since returning to the races this preparation.
Snowden told Racing Ahead that he was happy with the performance of Rose Of Choice in the Dane Ripper Stakes and he believes that the Choisir mare has taken plenty of improvement from the race heading in the 2015 Tattersall’s Tiara this weekend.
“She came through her last start in good order,” Snowden said.
“She didn’t have much luck there, she was three deep throughout and I thought her effort was good to hang on.
“That was only her second run up from the staggered preparation she had leading up to it and I think the benefit of that race brought her on.
“She has been at the Gold Coast for 10 or 12 days now and she has really thrived up there.
“She has drawn a bit awkward, but it may not be as bad as it looks on paper.”
While Snowden is happy with the condition of Rose Of Choice heading into the Tattersall’s Tiara, he admits that he is concerned about the state of the Gold Coast track that is currently rated as a heavy eight.
Rose Of Choice failed to fire in her only previous start on a rain affected track when she finished 11th in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) last year, but Snowden believes there were other reasons for the five-year-olds failure in that race and he is hopeful that she will be able to handle a slow track this weekend.
“There were circumstances around that race as well and she overraced badly,” Snowden said.
“She was very fresh and she emptied out late because they did go at a frantic pace.
“She chased Singo’s horse (Strawberry Boy) at a very fast clip, but she isn’t as far into her prep as she was that time and it is a different sort of preparation now.
“I don’t think she likes it, but if it is a slow track she should get through it ok.”
Second emergency Najoom is currently available at 2015 Tattersall’s Tiara odds of $3.90 and is a narrow favourite from Catkins ($4.40) and Srikandi ($4.60) with Ladbrokes.
