The Chris Waller trained Zousain has drawn the rails in the final field of eleven for the 2018 Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Graff, above, is the early favourite for the 2018 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Zousain is one of three Waller trained runners to contest the Group 1 for the three year olds and will be ridden again by James McDonald who was aboard the colt for a first up fourth to stablemate Lean Mean Machine in the Group 2 $200,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 8.
Lean Mean Machine will also be lining up in the Golden Rose Stakes and will jump from gate seven with The Run To The Rose winning jockey Tye Angland in the saddle again.
Waller’s third runner will be The Autumn Sun who has drawn awkwardly at barrier ten and will wear the blinkers for the first time with Kerrin McEvoy retaining the ride after the pair combined for a luckless first up fourth to Tarka in the Group 2 $200,000 The Daily Telegraph Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 8.
Zousain had been under a fitness cloud after suffering from an elevated temperature last week, but was given the all clear after galloping strongly at Rosehill this morning and Racing New South Wales Stewards released the following statement in relation to the Zoustar colt being right to take his place in the Golden Rose Stakes field.
“Charlie Duckworth, representing trainer Chris Waller, advised Racing NSW Stewards that Zousain galloped 1000m this morning and was subject to an endoscopic examination post-work. The endoscopic examination revealed no abnormalities and a blood test for health assessment performed yesterday returned pleasing results. Zousain will accept for the Golden Rose to be conducted this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.”
The Kris Lees trained Graff has been installed as the early favourite for the Golden Rose Stakes at $3.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au and has drawn nicely at barrier four with Jason Collett retaining the mount.
Collett has had two rides on Graff for a first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 Singapore Airlines San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 25 followed by a second to Lean Mean Machine in The Run To The Rose.
The Autumn Sun is on the second line of betting at $4.50 ahead of Lean Mean Machine at $6 and Zousain who is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $8.
Final field for the 2018 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13310×1 | LEAN MEAN MACHINE | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 7 | 56.5kg | 94 |
| 2 | 111×3 | THE AUTUMN SUN | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 10 | 56.5kg | 94 |
| 3 | 146122×4 | ZOUSAIN | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1 | 56.5kg | 90 |
| 4 | 11×12 | GRAFF | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 4 | 56.5kg | 88 |
| 5 | 11628×15 | SANDBAR | Brad Widdup | Corey Brown | 5 | 56.5kg | 85 |
| 6 | 34x110x5 | SANTOS | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 6 | 56.5kg | 84 |
| 7 | 110×43 | JONKER | David Atkins | Brenton Avdulla | 2 | 56.5kg | 83 |
| 8 | 1x10649x28 | LONG LEAF | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Joshua Parr | 11 | 56.5kg | 82 |
| 9 | 2×2216 | DANAWI | Tim Martin | – | 8 | 56.5kg | 75 |
| 10 | 5310×5 | TCHAIKOVSKY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tommy Berry | 3 | 56.5kg | 71 |
| 11 | 4x31591x3 | SEABROOK (NZ) | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 9 | 54.5kg | 101 |
