The 2015 Golden Rose first acceptances have been released and Golden Slipper winner Vancouver is one of over 100 horses that have been included in the early entries for the Group 1 event that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on September 12.
Vancouver is currently on top of 2015 Golden Rose Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Steve Hart
Vancouver made his racing debut with an impressive win in the Listed New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 and he went on to stamp himself as the best two-year-old in the country by recording impressive wins in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31, the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
The Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) is set to be the initial 2015 Spring Racing Carnival target for Vancouver before he heads to Melbourne for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10 and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse is set to have a very strong hand in the 2015 Golden Rose Stakes and she has included Golden Slipper runner-up English as well as Right Of Way, Tickled Pink, Speak Fondly, River Wild, Northern Conqueror, Sempre Libera and Clash Of Clans in the first acceptances for the Group 1 event.
Another Group 1 winner that has been included in the 2015 Golden Rose Stakes first acceptances is Team Snowden-trained Pride Of Dubai.
Pride Of Dubai was denied a maiden race win in the TAB Place Multi Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on December 20 and the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 14, but he was able to survive a tough passage to win the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 28 before he claimed the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 6.
Team Snowden have six entries in the 2015 Golden Rose Stakes, but their numbers are dwarfed by that of Team Hawkes, who have included 20 rising two-year-olds in the initial entries.
The Team Hawkes entries are headlined by talented colt Headwater, Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper placegetter Lake Geneva as well as the promising Mawahibb, but the likes of Surf Seeker, Manhattan Fever, Lighthouse Keeper and Sooboog are also a chance of contesting the race.
Another stable that could have a strong representation in the Golden Rose Stakes is Godolphin, who have 19 entries for the $1 million event.
Exosphere failed to fire in the Golden Slipper due to injury, but O’Shea is confident that the talented galloper will be a better horse as a three-year-old, while the likes of Holler, Tarquin, Ottoman, Calaverite, Furnaces and Inner Circle could develop into Golden Rose Stakes contenders.
Other notable horses in the Golden Rose Stakes first acceptances include Stoker, Prince Of Brooklyn, Reemah, Claudia Jean, Of The Brave, King’s Troop, Cartier Rock and Takedown.
