Brilliant unbeaten colt Vancouver heads the final field for the Group 3 $125,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Vancouver heads the final field for the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Golden Slipper winner has drawn barrier seven in the eight horse field and has been installed the short price favourite to keep his winning record intact.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver has won all his four race starts and will be having is first run since winning the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Tommy Berry was aboard Vancouver for three of his four wins, including the Golden Slipper, and had to postpone his honeymoon to be in the saddle again in the San Domenico Stakes.
Waterhouse has reported that the Medaglia D’Oro colt has pleased the stable in his lead up to his comeback and the ‘First Lady Of The Turf’ can’t see her star three year old getting beaten in his Spring Carnival campaign.
“Vancouver has comeback bigger and better who I believe will not be beaten this preparation,” Waterhouse said on her blog.
Team Hawkes have elected to stay in Sydney with Headwater who was also nominated for the Group 3 $150,000 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and has drawn the outside of the small field.
Headwater will also be having his first start since his fifth in the Golden Slipper and has been primed for a solid first up performance with two barrier trials, a win at Warwick Farm over 740m on July 24 followed by a second over 900m at Rosehill on August 4.
Blake Shinn takes the ride on Saturday.
Haptic from the John O’Shea stables showed plenty of ability during the Autumn with two wins from three starts and heads to the San Domenico Stakes on the back of a 1050m Randwick barrier trial win on July 31.
Sam Clipperton will be having his first ride on the Exceed And Excel gelding who will jump from gate three.
The Chris Waller trained Japonisme will be facing his toughest test to date after winning his last three starts and is stepping up from a win in a BenchMark 72 Handicap at Rosehill to Group 3 level.
Japonisme has drawn barrier five with Tye Angland getting the ride.
King’s Troop is also making a huge leap up in class after leading all of the way to win a 1100m Maiden at Warwick Farm on August 5.
Tim Clark is the new rider for the Redoute’s Choice colt and has drawn nicely at gate four.
Premiership winning jockey Hugh Bowman has retained the ride on the Peter And Paul Snowden trained Redzel and will jump from gate six.
The two outsiders of the field have drawn the two inside barriers with Alarat jumping from the rails position with Greg Ryan while Danny Beasley will be aboard Salerno from gate two.
San Domenico Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.35 Vancouver, $4.80 Redzel, $5.50 Japonisme, $7 King’s Troop, $8.50 Haptic, $9 Headwater, $81 Salerno, $101 Alarat.
