Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep will begin his quest for a Spring Group 1 victory when he lines up in the Group 3 $125,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sidestep to resume in the San Domenico at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Sidestep split Gai Waterhouse’s fillies Overreach and Sweet Idea when second in Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill in April and trainer Peter Snowden will aim the Exceed And Excel colt towards the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 14.
“The Golden Rose is the main goal for Sidestep,” Snowden told The Daily Telegraph.
Tommy Berry will ride Sidestep on Saturday, taking over from stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy who will be in Melbourne to ride stable mate Safeguard in the Group 3 $135,000 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Snowden is expecting a forward showing from Sidestep after a pleasing second at the Randwick trials on August 2 behind Saturday’s Group 3 Missile Stakes winner Rain Affair.
“Sidestep trialled well the other day, I didn’t ask him to do a lot, it will be a little short for him on Saturday, but the horse is sharp himself and it wouldn’t surprise me if he runs really well fresh,” Snowden said.
Snowden is looking for back to back Golden Rose victories after winning last year’s Group 1 for the three year olds with Epaulette who provided Berry with his first Group 1 winner.
Sidestep in one of ten three year olds that Snowden has nominated for the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 and most likely take the same path as Epaulette who wound up third behind All Too Hard and Pierro in last year’s version.
The early Golden Rose market sees Sidestep the second favourite at $6.50 behind Overreach at $4.60 with last Saturday’s Randwick winner Eurozone at $8.
