John O’Shea’s Golden Rose winning colt Exosphere is the headline nominee for the Coolmore Stud Stakes 2015 at Flemington Racecourse this Saturday as part of the Victoria Derby Day action kicking off the famous four-meeting Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Golden Rose winner Exosphere heads the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes nominations for his Melbourne debut at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

This year’s edition of the stallion-making $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) sprint for three-year-olds has attracted 17 nominations led by Godolphin’s superstar young gun Exosphere.

The nicely-bred son of Lonhro has won five from seven to date including the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) two back and the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at the start of the month in Sydney.

He is yet to race in Melbourne however and while the Coolmore run is confirmed, O’Shea said this week a seven day back-up into the $1 million Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) may not be on the cards win or lose this weekend.

The stable also has Mogador nominated for the Stud Stakes on Saturday, another Lonhro colt boasting a consistent record to date including a second behind Keen Array in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 14.

The David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Blue Sapphire winner Keen Array is also a Coolmore Stud Stakes nomination for Saturday, the Bel Esprit gelding a winner of four of his seven starts to date including two from two over the 1200m.

Sydney’s premier horseman and last Saturday’s Cox Plate winning trainer Chris Waller has won the past two Coolmore Stud Stakes with Zoustar (2013) and Brazen Beau (2014) both winning the Derby Day classic on the back of a Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes win at Randwick.

Exosphere then is looking to complete the Roman Consul Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes for the third time in as many years.

Waller will shoot for his third straight Coolmore Stud Stakes trophy in 2015 nominating for two three-year-olds this spring with Counterattack and Japonisme.

Fifth to Exosphere in the Roman Consul two back, Redoute’s Choice colt Counterattack ran at Randwick again on October 17 for a win a black-type win over 1200m.

Japonisme won four on the trot earlier in the year including the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) in mid-August before a Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) fourth and Roman Consul Stakes third to Exosphere.

Other notable Coolmore Stud Stakes nominated youngsters include recent Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) winning Exceed And Excel colt down the Flemington straight Kinglike for Peter Moody, Michael Freedman’s import from Singapore Super One, returning Golden Rose third placegetter Sebring Sun and Lake Geneva.

The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Fasnet Rock filly Lake Geneva is out to become the second female Coolmore Stud Stakes winner in four years after Nechita (2012) and is on a seven day turnaround if accepted.

Third in both the Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper as a two-year-old at the start of the year, Lake Geneva was back to her best on Cox Plate Day with a win in the Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m).

See below for the full Coolmore Stud Stakes 2015 nominations, the field out on Wednesday.

Before then make sure you’ve got an account open online at Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on the entire Flemington Derby Day line-up this Saturday!

2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes Nominations

Flemington Racecourse – 31/10/2015