Horse Racing

A star-studded list of three-year-olds have been nominated for the 2012 Royal Sovereign Stakes at Warwick Farm this Saturday including Golden Rose winner Manawanui and Peter Moody’s boom colt Moment Of Change.

Manawanui will resume racing in the Royal Sovereign Stakes 2012 this Saturday at Warwick Farm

Used as a lead-up for youngsters heading towards later Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival majors including the $500,000 Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 17, this year’s edition of the $175,000 Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) is shaping up as one of the best in many seasons.

The highest-rated of the 14 early entries is Ron Leemon’s Oratorio gelding Manawanui.

Winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) as a two-year-old last September, Manawanui also enjoyed two Group 2 victories during the spring as well as a narrow second to Helmet in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Last seen finishing sixth in their failed distance test in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Derby Day, Manawanui showed they were ready to get back under race conditions with a winning barrier trial at Rosehill earlier this month over 1030m.

It will be a tough first-up assignment for Manawanui, one of their biggest threats being Moody’s undefeated Barley A Moment gelding Moment Of Change.

After back-to-back wins last season by 10 and four lengths at Murtoa and then Sandown respectively, Moment Of Change enjoyed more time in the headlines this month when they won their first barrier trial over 900m at Rosehill.

All of the names in the 2012 Royal Sovereign Stakes nominations are of interest with some of the best including Peter Snowden’s lightly-raced Free Wheeling, Gerald Ryan’s Snitzel gelding Hot Snitzel, WA Guineas winning Perth raider King Saul and Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Darci Be Good.

Last spring’s Spring Champion Stakes winner Doctor Doom is also set to return to racing in the Royal Sovereign on Saturday, trainer Guy Walter hoping for a good first-up run from the Domesday gelding despite knowing they will be better over more distance later this prep.

“Doctor Doom’s aim is the Rosehill Guineas and then the Australian Derby and obviously he will be better over further,” Walter said.

“Rodney Quinn will be on.”

The $500,000 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) runs on March 31 while the classic $1.5 million Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) will light up Royal Randwick on April 14.

Acceptances revealing the Royal Sovereign Stakes field 2012 will be taken on Wednesday and published right here along with a detailed race preview at Races.com.au.

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2012 Royal Sovereign Stakes Nominations

Warwick Farm – 18/02/2012