The James Cummings trained Plague Stone has been installed as the favourite for the Listed $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Plague Stone, above, is the early favourite for the 2018 Rosebud at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Ladbrokes.com.au have marked Plague Stone as the $2.60 top pick for the three year old race and another good performance will put the Lonhro colt well in contention for the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 22.

Plague Stone scored two barrier trial wins at Warwick Farm and Randwick before looking good with a stylish first up win in the $100,000 Rosebud Prelude (1000m) at Randwick on July 21.

Hugh Bowman was aboard Plague Stone at Randwick and has elected to stick with the colt who has drawn barrier six in the nine horse Rosebud field.

Cummings said that Plague Stone has come through his first up win in great shape and he expects the three year old to produce another strong performance.

“He has been bottled up and held together as we’ve proceeded to the Rosebud,” Cummings said.

“He continues to look very sharp since his strong win over five furlongs a few weeks ago and looks set to let down strongly again.”

On the second line of betting at $4.20 is the Kim Waugh trained Oxford Tycoon who has drawn barrier seven with Blake Shinn to ride.

Shinn was aboard the Written Tycoon colt when they combined for a four and three quarter lengths win in an 1100m two year old Maiden at Wyong on July 24.

The Chris Waller trained Charge is also coming off a Maiden win at Warwick Farm and is the third pick in the betting at $6.50 just ahead of Sandbar at $7.50.

Jay Ford will ride Charge who has drawn barrier eight while Sandbar will jump from the outside gate for Kerrin McEvoy.