Nominations for the 2014 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) have highlighted a list of 12 possibilities for this weekend’s Group 2 major at Flemington racecourse, including Awesome Rock.

Boomwaa headlines nominations for the 2014 VRC Sires Produces Stakes. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia

Having first trialled in early September 2013, trainer Leon Corstens elected to keep Awesome Rock in the spelling paddock for the entirety of the Spring Racing Carnival, instead eyeing a debut preparation for 2014.

Despite a less-than convincing first-up run for seventh in the Bishop Joe Grech Memorial Maiden (900), the talented Fastnet Rock hit back in the best way possible, scoring a strong two length win over Tashbeeh and Veuvelicious in the Say It With Flowers Handicap (1300m) on February 26^th.

Corstens has a high opinion of the building two-year-old, and has outlined appearances in the 2014 Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as major goals.

Also included in nominations for the 2014 Sires’ Produce Stakes is exciting gelding Boomwaa.

In only seven starts to date Boomwaa has quickly risen to prominence; finishing third behind Risen From Doubt and Jabali in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) on debut before winning the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on November 9^th.

On February 15^th, Boomwaa became the first two-year-old to appear in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) since Clever Zoe in 1993, however was unable to perform to a competitive standard against many more well-trialled opponents and finished a disappointing tenth.

Having competed substantially stronger against runners his own age when fifth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) last time, trainer Robbie Laing is expecting big things of the son of Mutawaajid and has included Boomwaa in nominations for the Group 1 ATC Sires produce Stakes on April 12^th.

Having also contested the Blue Diamond Stakes most recently, Malaguerra recorded a strong first-up performance, easily overcoming a talented field to win the John Duff & Co Plate (1000m) on January 19^th.

Despite drifting in form over his two proceeding runs, trainer Wez Hunter is confident of a successful maiden preparation for the Magnus colt and has set his sights on a possible trip to Adelaide for the Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) in May.

Two-year-old gelding Marcado exploded onto the racing scene in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m), overcoming an awkward jump to beat Orujo and Lady Sharapova by nearly a length and deliver recently embattled trainer Steve Richards a well-deserved victory.

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2014 VRC Sires Produce Stakes Nominations