Lindsay Park’s gun filly Formality may have impressed with a Furious Stakes win last weekend, but jockey Kerrin McEvoy harbours concerns about her ability to stretch out in distance for the Golden Rose Stakes 2017.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is unsure if classy filly Formality will get the 1400m of the 2017 Golden Rose. Photo: Steve Hart
The Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m), held at Rosehill Gardens on September 23, was immediately named as a spring target for the in-form daughter of Fastnet Rock after she posted her second win on the trot last Saturday.
Third to stablemate Catchy in Melbourne’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) during the autumn, Formality has won both starts this prep with victories in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Both of those turf triumphs were by devastatingly close margins giving McEvoy some doubts about how effective the three-year-old sprinter will be over the increased distance of the Golden Rose Stakes.
“It’s interesting whether she can run the trip – it’s debatable,” the recent inductee into the S.A. Racing Hall of Fame told RSN.
“David [Hayes] said on Saturday night, ‘It’s worth $1 million, so it’s worth having a crack’.
“You probably have to agree with him.
“I’m still unsure about the trip for her, but she’s a winner.
“She just wants to give her best and try hard, and we had a nice run up on the speed [in the Furious Stakes].
“She takes the bad luck out of the equation because she begins so well and you get a good spot.”
The David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable are after their first Golden Rose Stakes victory, while McEvoy enjoyed success in the spring showdown aboard the Peter Snowden-trained Denman back in 2009.
The past five Golden Rose Stakes winners came off a lead-up run in the Group 2 Run To The Rose, including the past three to do the double.
The Run To The Rose 2017 takes place at Rosehill on Saturday and features the top contenders for the Group 1 in a fortnight’s time including the current Gerald Ryan-trained favourite Menari.
Menari leads all-in Golden Rose Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $5.50 after the Snitzel colt’s first-u win in the Listed The Rosebud (1100m).
Despite her dominance this time in over her own kind, Formality remains a little further down futures Golden Rose betting at $15.
Dual Melbourne Cup winning hoop McEvoy also has a ride in The Run To The Rose field this weekend partnering the Godolphin-raced Lonhro colt Kementari for his black-type debut.
The James Cummings-trained youngster has had just the two starts to date, including a breakthrough win over 1400m at Randwick in late May.
Kementari has trialled nicely twice since and currently occupies the third line of Golden Rose Stakes betting at $8.
The Godolphin stable won last year’s Golden Rose with Astern (2016), who was prepared by their then head trainer John O’Shea.
To get behind your favourite three-year-olds this weekend and for the Golden Rose Stakes race later in the month, visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.
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