Yankee Rose heads nominations for Champagne Stakes

Outstanding filly Yankee Rose heads the nominations for the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Yankee Rose, above, heads the nominations for the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Yankee Rose, above, heads the nominations for the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Yankee Rose is one of nine juveniles entered for the third leg of the Australian Turf Club’s two year old Triple Crown series with the Club extending the entry deadline to 11am on Tuesday, April 12, 2016.

The David Vandyke trained filly is the stand out entry and is the one to beat following her two and a half lengths win in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires(1400m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ on April 2.

At her previous start Yankee Rose ran a mighty first up race to be beaten half a length when second to Capitalist in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19.

The Matthew Smith trained Faraway Town is also among the nominations for the Champagne Stakes and is coming off a last start third to Yankee Rose in the Inglis Sires’  when she made up plenty of ground in the straight.

Faraway Town had also performed fairly when fifth to Calliope at her previous starts in the Group 2 $175,000 Bede Murray Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 12.

Chimboraa is also among the nominations for the Champagne Stakes and also went a round in the Inglis Sires’ for a seventh to Yankee Rose.

The Congrats colt ran a great race at huge odds the start before when second to Souchez in the Group 2 $175,000 Cafe Culture + Insitu Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 12.

Late Sydney Autumn Carnival arrival Sicario will be representing New Zealand in the Champagne Stakes and the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained gelding comes to Randwick after finishing second in the  Group 1 NZ$250,000 Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on April 2.

Other youngsters entered for the Champagne Stakes are the John O’Shea trained Obscura, Crown Him from the Anthony Cummings stables, Team Hawkes’ last start Kembla Grange winner Divine Prospect, Robbie Laing’s Jaws Of Steel and Pop from Clinton McDonald’s Caulfield stable.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.