Horse Racing

The Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) is one of nine races running at Rosehill this Saturday, highlighted by two Group One races, attracting 23 middle-distance runners in its nominations.

Junoob is one of seven horses nominated by Chris Waller for the Neville Sellwood Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Top Sydney trainer Chris Waller could hold the monopoly on the race after nominating seven of his stable stars – Beaten Up, Black Jag, Foreteller, Hawkspur, Index Linked, Junoob, and Our Voodoo Prince.

Foreteller is by far his classiest potential runner with the eight-year-old headlining the 23-strong field. The three-time Group One winner has hit a bit of a roadblock lately, failing to place in any of his six past starts but did enjoy a win in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) last September.

The gelding has had three starts this campaign, the last of which was the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) on March 14 in which he ran an honest ninth (of 16).

Waller has a few talented horses who found success last year but have so far failed to reproduce the winning form this campaign including Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) winner Beaten Up, Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) winner Hawkspur, and Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) winner Junoob.

Rounding out his charge of potential runners are Black Jag, Listed Victoria Cup (2000m) winner Index Linked, and Our Voodoo Prince.

David Hayes & Tom Dabernig’s Extra Zero is targeting the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) on Saturday after his spectacular near-win in the Australian Cup two weeks ago, however the eight-year-old gelding is also nominated for the 2015 Neville Sellwood Stakes as a back-up.

Fiveandahalfstar will return to the Rosehill track nearly two years after winning The BMW in 2013, yet the gelding is set to run in the Group Three supporting race instead of the feature. After 22 months on the sideline due to injury, Fiveandahalfstar has had three starts since February but has finished mid to rear of the field in all.

Five-year-old mare Dear Demi could take on the boys in the 2015 Neville Sellwood Stakes. The Clarry Conners-trained mare won the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) and finished second in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) back in September but has failed to make anything of her two starts since resuming at the end of February.

Other classy horses nominated for the Neville Sellwood Stakes include Peter Moody’s Lidari, Listed Lord Stakes (1600m) runner-up Mouro, last Saturday’s Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) runner-up Phrases, and Michael Kent’s Epingle.

Check out the full list of nominations below. Open your Ladbrokes.com.au betting account to receive up to $250 in a bonus match on your first bet. Simply quote code: BETBONUS.

2015 Neville Sellwood Stakes Nominations