Peter Snowden’s Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep is nominated to make their three-year-old debut this Saturday topping the list of early entries for the San Domenico Stakes 2013 at Rosehill Gardens.

Sidestep will kick off their Golden Rose campaign in Saturday's San Domenico Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

There were a total of 10 nominations taken for this year’s edition of the $125,000 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m), a three-year-olds set weights plus penalties event that often produces some Sydney and Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival stars.

A number of hopefuls in the mix will use the race as a guide to some of the bigger spring carnival features for their age including even the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in November during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The top-rated nominee in the San Domenico 2013 is Exceed And Excel colt Sidestep who will be ridden by Tommy Berry.

Winner of the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) back in March, the up-and-comer was last seen finishing second to the Gai Waterhouse-trained Overreach in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on April 6.

Sidestep’s spring plans are yet to be confirmed but they have been nominated for both the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12 as well as the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) – Australasia’s weight-for-age championship to run at Moonee Valley on October 26.

Snowden however is focusing on the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) in Sydney first back at Rosehill on September 14.

“Sidestep trialled well the other day, I didn’t ask him to do a lot, it will be a little short for him on Saturday, but the horse is sharp himself and it wouldn’t surprise me if he runs really well fresh,” Snowden told the Daily Telegraph.

“The Golden Rose is the main goal.”

Snowden has also nominated for another son of Exceed And Excel, Kuroshio, a Group 3 winner in the Blue Diamond Prelude before their disappointing 14^th in the Golden Slipper.

Other highly-rated horses in the San Domenico Stakes nominations include Waterhouse’s Tale Of The Cat colt Whittington who won the Listed NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes by three lengths on debut last October, Silver Slipper Stakes runner-up from Brisbane Whiskey Allround, and the Bjorn Baker-trained Windjammer coming off a first-up win at Rosehill from the start of the month.

See below for the full list of entries with the San Domenico Stakes final field and barriers due for release on Wednesday.

Whether it’s a weekend lead-up or one of the big Group 1’s you’re after the odds on this season make sure you get the best price online every time at bookmaker.com.au!

2013 San Domenico Stakes Nominations

Rosehill Gardens – 17/08/2013