Feature racing returns to Rosehill Gardens on 2023 San Domenico Stakes Day!
Two three-year-old black type contests headline the program, but there are ten winners to be found in total, and you can find my complete 2023 San Domenico Stakes Day Tips below.
Luke Pepper will saddle up a couple in this week’s Highway race, including Keikoku.
Keikoku won his first start for the stable back in June, and after a credible effort in Class 3 company at Muswellbrook two back, he only just missed at his latest.
He steps out this week in peak order, has drawn well and we can have an each way play at double-figures.
Wineglass Bay only just missed at each of his last two starts and he gets another great chance to win on Saturday at Rosehill.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding finished fourth, beaten just over a head over 1400m at Randwick when resuming, and he has since finished second in a couple of BM78 races.
The small rise in trip looks absolutely ideal, and he can turn the tables on last-start winner Travelling Kate.
Marquess returned an eye-catching performance to win at his first start back, and this looks the next logical step for him to take!
The Tavistock gelding ended his last prep with consecutive wins at the provincials, but there is no doubt that her first run back this time was her best to date.
With natural improvement and getting out to the 1500m, I think she’ll be right in the finish again.
This week’s Midway Handicap is a typically open affair with plenty of winning chances, including Piraeus.
The Merchant Navy gelding has recorded two wins and a further three placings from his nine career starts to date, returning from a freshen up to finish third over a mile at Kembla Grange a couple of weeks ago.
This is obviously a rise in class, but he’s open to plenty of improvement, and the 1800m looks as though it will be ideal.
Xtravagant Star only just missed in his first start for the Maher & Eustace yard, and she gets a great chance to go one better on Saturday.
The Xtravagant mare finished down the order in two autumn starts this year, but the change of scenery almost paid immediate dividends when she flashed late to only just miss at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks ago.
This is a small rise in class, but James McDonald retains the ride, the horse drops in weight and is drawn to receive every chance.
Fearnought has returned some nice efforts back from a break, and she strikes another winnable race this week at Rosehill Gardens.
By I Am Invincible, out of multiple Group 1 winner Red Tracer, Fearnought charged through to win at Randwick two back before finishing fourth in a similar race last time.
She’s hard fit, drawn to receive every chance and clearly, is up to winning something of this quality.
Some of the season’s most exciting three-year-olds will contest the Up And Coming Stakes, including Caballus.
Caballus has only made three appearances at the races so far, but he broke his maiden impressively at Randwick two back before filling the minors in BM72 company at his latest.
This is another rise in class, but his fitness edge over several leading rivals should prove the difference, while he’s another whose winning chances are buoyed by the booking of James McDonald.
Barber hasn’t been seen at the races since April, but the San Domenico Stakes is a lovely campaign launchpad for him, and he looks a bit of value at current odds ($10 at publish).
The Exceed And Excel colt stamped himself as one to watch by winning the Kirkham Plate and Golden Gift at his first two career starts, while he returned in the autumn to win the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G.
Having finished down the order in Group 1 company at his next two, he was an improved performer when third in the Kindergarten Stakes at his last appearance.
He’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading up to his return, and while he will need some luck from the wide draw, I thought that the booking of Josh Parr was promising.
Kalino steps out this week third-up and well placed to strike.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding returned a winner in BM88 company here in July, and he was decent when fifth, beaten under three lengths in Group 3 company last week.
I like that he’s on the quick back-up and obviously, the drop in class suits as well.
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in the last on San Domenico Stakes Day, including the resuming Hell I Am.
There is no denying that Hell I Am’s form tailed off quite a bit by the end of his autumn prep, but his fresh form last time was good, as it typically is.
He’s more than up to this grade and rates as a key each way chance once more.