Gai Waterhouse-trained Vancouver has been included in the 2015 Canonbury Stakes field and will be the only horse in the Group 3 event with any race experience.
Vancouver will have the chance to improve his racing record to two wins from as many starts in the 2015 Canonbury Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Vancouver made his first public appearance when he was forced to work to record a barrier trial win at Royal Randwick on September 22 and he made his racing debut with a strong effort in the Listed New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1100m) at Royal Randwick on October 4.
The Medaglia D’Oro colt was sent to the spelling paddock following his debut win and was not overly impressive when fourth in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on January 15, but jockey Tommy Berry is confident that the two-year-old will be a different horse when he has blinkers applied in the Canonbury Stakes this weekend.
Vancouver will be joined in the Canonbury Stakes by stablemate Ulster, who has performed well in two barrier trials ahead of his racing debut this weekend.
Ulster made his first public appearance when he hit the line strongly in a barrier trial over 733 metres at Royal Randwick on December 30 and he produced another professional effort when second in the same trial as Vancouver at Royal Randwick on January 15.
Another horse in the Canonbury Stakes field that contested the same barrier trial is John Sargent-trained Cashing Up, who finished in front of Vancouver in the trial but was asked for a fair effort by jockey Sam Clipperton.
Godolphin have dominated the early season two-year-old races and they will be represented in the Canonbury Stakes by Chamarel.
Chamarel showed plenty of early speed when he won a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens on January 6 in impressive fashion and he was given a quiet time in his second trial at the same venue on January 20.
Team Snowden-trained Outreach defeated Chamarel in the same barrier trial and the stable have a high opinion of the son of Exceed And Excel that they believe is their best juvenile outside of classy debut winner Paceman.
The 2015 Canonbury Stakes field is rounded out by Team Hawkes-trained Mawahibb, who will be making his racing debut after performing well in two barrier trials at Randwick on September 22 and Rosehill Gardens on January 20.
The Canonbury Stakes has not been a particularly strong form guide for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) in recent years and Sebring (2008) was the last horse to complete the double.
