The James Cummings trained Plague Stone is very firm in the pre-post betting for the 2018 Group 3 $150,000 Singapore Airlines San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Plague Stone, above, has been well supported in the pre-post betting for the 2018 San Domenico Stales at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Plague Stone has firmed in from $4.80 when the final field of the San Domenico Stakes field was released on Wednesday to be the second pick at $4 on race eve.
The Chris Waller trained Performer is just holding on to favouritism at $3.90 while the promising Neutrality is a significant market mover after his price firmed in from $6 to be on the third line of betting at $4.40.
Plague Stone was a first up winner in the $100,000 Rosebid Prelude (1000m) at Randwick on July 21 then was out of luck when caught wide before finishing a solid fourth to Sandbar in the Listed $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on August 11.
Cummings has indicated that Plague Stone has come through that tough run in fine shape and he is expecting another bold showing from the Lonhro colt.
“Plague Stone’s training has been better leading up to the San Domenico than before the Rosebud,” Cummings said.
“He looks like he’s using himself more sensibly and he let down really powerfully. But I’m quite wary that he is up against much tougher opposition.”
Plague Stone has drawn barrier five in the nine horse San Domenico Stakes field and will be ridden by Glyn Schofield who takes over the reins from Hugh Bowman.
Bowman will be riding the early favourite Performer and the headline jockey has experienced the highs and the lows with the Exceed And Excel colt.
Bowman was aboard Performer for his debut win in the Listed $150,000 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival but then was unceremoniously dumped from the colt when he ducked out in the straight in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 10 during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Bowman then hopped back on Performer but the pair had no luck from a wide gate in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and finished near the tail of the field in fourteenth position.
