Trainer Gai Waterhouse has revealed that she is certain the leading contenders for the 2014 Golden Rose will come out of the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Gai Waterhouse believes that the San Domenico Stakes will be the key form race for the Golden Rose. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Waterhouse will be represented in the 2014 San Domenico Stakes by both Wandjina and Hampton Court and she told Sky Racing HQ that she believes that there is plenty of talent in the nine horse field for the $125,000 event.
“It will be a very hotly run race, it will be an extremely hard race to run and the horses that run first, second and third in the San Domenico will be fighting out the finish in the Golden Rose,” Waterhouse said.
“I can be sure of it.”
Wandjina and Hampton Court are both rated outsiders in the 2014 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, but Waterhouse is confident that both horses will perform well in the Group 3 event this afternoon.
“Wandjina is a typical set of Snitzel,” Waterhouse said.
“He has power, he has speed and he is a really exciting horse.
“Hampton Court is a lovely big son of Redoute’s and he is a big solid horse.
“They are both very strong colts and they will both run super races in what I think is a well above average San Domenico.”
Wandjina did plenty wrong when he made his racing debut with a seventh place finish in the Listed New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 last year, but took plenty of benefit from his stint in the spelling paddock to resume with a dominant win in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farm on February 19.
The Snitzel colt was injured during the running of the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Warwick Farm on March 8 and was sent to the spelling paddock after finishing a credible fourth in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.
Hampton Court is the outside of the San Domenico Stakes betting market at a quote of $41 and failed to fire in his two races starts in black type company; finishing at the tail of the field in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 1 and the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) at the same venue on April 5.
Nostradamus ($3.90) remains a narrow favourite in San Domenico Stakes betting, but there has been plenty of support for the Gerald Ryan-trained duo of Washington Heights ($4.20) and Ygritte ($4.40).
