Nine three-year-olds will step out in Saturday’s featured Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens and we are set for a thrilling contest between several leading Golden Rose prospects.
Performer ($4.50) has not been seen at the races since March, but he is a horse with plenty of talent and is capable of fighting out the finish of the San Domenico Stakes 2018.
Winner of both the Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m) and Group 3 Canonbury Plate (1100m) in what were his first two career starts, the Exceed And Excel colt lost jockey Hugh Bowman in the straight during the running of the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) and was sent to the paddock after a lacklustre run in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
He’s trialled extremely well in the lead-up to this race and with Bowman in the saddle again, will be tough to beat.
Godolphin colt Plague Stone failed to justify in the Listed The Rosebud (1100m) last time out, but he has a fitness edge over several of his major rivals in this race and can deliver on San Domenico Stakes odds of $5.50.
Plague Stone also produced a number of fine efforts amongst black type company as a two-year-old but has returned to the track as a far more furnished horse this time and broke his maiden in style over 1000m first-up.
He endured a tough run in the Rosebud and with better luck, he can be right in the finish of the San Domenico Stakes on Saturday.
Peter & Paul Snowden will be offered two good chances in the feature race after confirming both Neutrality ($7) and Tchaikovsky ($10) in the San Domenico Stakes field.
Neutrality has only made two competitive appearances at the race so far but was an impressive winner on debut and was last seen finishing fourth in the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) in late February.
He’s trialled extremely well in the lead-up to the San Domenico Stakes but may require the run to find his best.
Tchaikovsky broke his maiden at his third career start in March but was another horse that was sent to the paddock after failing to fire at Group 1 level.
James McDonald got a feel for the horse through two impressive barrier trials and could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 4.
Wyong Magic Millions winner Jonker will make his eagerly anticipated return to the races in the San Domenico Stakes and he could prove over the odds at his $11 quote.
The Spirit Of Boom colt stamped himself as a horse to follow by posting dominant wins in his first two career starts, but was pushed into the fence early in the running of the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast in January and failed to recovers.
His trials suggest that he’s ready to go and Corey Brown can take up the running on the horse from barrier 2.
Paquirri ($34), Dio D’Oro ($17), Graff ($9) and Ringerdingding ($21) complete the 2018 San Domenico Stakes field, but are all yet to attract much interest in betting.