The highlight of the day’s racing at Rosehill this Saturday will be the return of several promising 3yo’s in the G3 San Domenico Stakes with Gerald Ryan’s pair of Washington Heights ($3.80) and the filly Ygritte ($4.60) going head to head with Team Hawkes representatives Nostradamus ($3.80) and Bugatty ($6.50). They are the four runners under double figures odds for the $125k feature. Ryan will have a good insight into the chances of Ygritte having trained Snitzerland, also a filly sired by Snitzel, to success in this race in 2012.

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San Domenico Stakes 2014 Field

1. LAW – G Schofield (7)

Formerly with Gai Waterhouse Law, winner of his first two starts including the Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m), will be having his first start as a representative of the Chris Waller Stable. Waller has taken his time getting to know the son of Denman and given him three trials since early last month. Generally shows good speed and led the fields before running fourth to Mossfun in the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes last time in however, with the new stable, three trials and a wide gate, they may try and sit off them here.

2. BUGATTY – B Shinn (5)

After a promising first campaign that saw him win at Flemington before running second int he G3 Chairman’s Stakes (1100m) to Nayeli, the son of Dreamscape looked set to return in good order judging by his two smart barrier trial wins at Rosehill. However he was taken to Victoria for his return race and unfortunately for connections and punters who took the 11/8 price, he wasn’t at all comfortable on the heavy track and weakened from an on-pace position, to run second to last. He was given seven weeks off after that run and again looked good in winning a barrier trial, here at Rosehill, just on a fortnight ago. Expect an improved effort here.

3. NOSTRADAMUS – J McDonald (3)

Well bred stable-mate of Bugatty who commenced his career with an impressive win up the Flemington straight before excellent runs in both the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude and G1 Blue Diamond stakes, where he drew wide in both events before running fourth and seventh respectively. Has been prepped for his return to racing with a winning barrier trial at Hawkesbury, when ridden by James McDoanld, who also partnered Bugatty in it’s recent trial win. McDonald’s decision to go with this horse should not be ignored.

4. BOLD CIRCLE – J Lloyd (2)

David Payne’s Bernardini colt returned to racing off a ten month spell and ran according to his alarming betting drift ($12 – $20) by finishing last of eight in last week’s Listed The Rosebud. He was under pressure a long way from home and battled in the straight to finish 5.5 lengths behind Scissor Kick. Admittedly, it was his first run from a long break and he’ll be better for it but, he has significant improvement to make int he space of a week to be winning here.

5. WANDJINA – T Berry (9)

Well bred Snitzel colt trained by Gai Waterhouse who won a Restricted race at Warwick Farm first up last preparation in convincing style before finishing fourth in both the Listed Lonhro Plate and G2 Todman Stakes behind Alpha Miss and Ghibellines respectively. He’s been prepared for his return with Waterhouse’s customary two barrier trials, looking good in both. This is tougher again though than his previous Stakes races and drawing the widest gate is not ideal.

6. WASHINGTON HEIGHTS – B Avdulla (1)

Commands colt from Gerald Ryan’s yard who was spelled immediately following his promising second on debut to Hallowed Crown in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) back in April. He drew wide in that race and after settling back in the field, made good ground on the heavy conditions to finishing 1.3 lengths from the winner. It’ll be interesting to see where they go with him here after drawing the inside gate and when asked to take $3.80, would prefer to see what he does on a dry track first.

7. HAMPTON COURT – T Angland (6)

The Redoute’s Choice colt ran into the smart Brazen Beau on debut and finishing second, before her two attempts in Stakes races – the G2 Silver Slipper and G3 The Schweppes, both run on rain effected ground, saw her finish well out of the placings. Her only win from four starts in her first campaign came at Newcastle, on a good track, when she held on gamely to win a 1400m 2yo Open event. Still yet to prove herself at this level.

8. SHEER STYLE – T Clark (8)

Honest and well travelled filly who in her eight starts to date, of which she has won two and placed a further four occasions, has competed on six individual tracks in three states. His previous two runs at this particular circuit, have seen her lead each time before running second (to Bold Circle on debut) and fifth (to Delectation two starts ago), in races of less quality than this one. Too hard to see him crossing from a wide gate and holding on at this level.

9. YGRITTE – K McEvoy (3)

The second filly in the race, the daughter of Snitzel won well on debut at Kembla Grange for trainer Gerald Ryan back in Februrary before getting within a length of winning the G3 Widden Stakes (Mossfun), G3 Thoroughbred Classic (Clifton Red) and G3 Royal Randwick Stakes (Eloping), finishing second in each event. She’s drawn to get the gun run here and with weight advantage over the boys, can figure in the finish.

RACE OVERVIEW

Pace will come from Windjina, Sheer Style and Bugatty with Ygritte and possibly Law handy. Each of Nostradamus’ three runs earlier this year were first rate and had he drawn a gate in either of the Blue Diamond races, would’ve gone close to worrying the winner. At the price, happy to take a look at Washington Heights whose only run has been on a heavy track, which he breed tend to enjoy. Not saying he won’t measure up but compared to Nostradamus, who has the runs on the board, he is short. Ygritte will be in the box seat throughout and is a definite chance.

1. NOSTRADAMUS
2. YGRITTE
3. WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
4. BUGATTY

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