Paul Perry’s in-form Newcastle galloper Tatoosh will continue towards next month’s Spring Champion Stakes with a run in the Gloaming Stakes 2015 at Rosehill Gardens on the weekend.

Last year’s Gloaming Stakes winner Sweynesse went on to run third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes next run. Photo: Steve Hart.

There are currently 14 three-year-olds in the mix for this year’s $200,000 Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) with nominations for the set weights clash on Golden Pendant Day extended until 11am (AEST) on Tuesday.

The race is the traditional lead-up to the $400,000 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) held this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival at Royal Randwick on October 10.

Four of the past five Spring Champion Stakes winners had their final lead-up in the Gloaming Stakes including two to complete the double with It’s A Dundeel (2012) and Complacent (2013).

Last year’s Gloaming Stakes winner Sweynesse (2014) also backed-up to run a brave third to Hampton Court in the Spring Champion.

This year the shortest-priced of the Gloaming Stakes nominees in the futures Spring Champion Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au is Tatoosh ($9), the all-in markets led by Chris Waller’s Big Brown colt Wudang Mountain ($7).

A son of Beneteau, Tatoosh has won two from nine to date and comes off two good seconds when narrowly beaten by Metallic Crown in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Randwick on September 5 and then Devil Hawk by a neck in last Friday’s Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle.

The Waller-trained Spring Stakes winning Purrealist colt Devil Hawk is the other top name Gloaming Stakes entry for the short back-up this Saturday.

In his black-type debut the up-and-comer enjoyed the step up to a mile to win on Newcastle Gold Cup Day firming into a $10 fancy for the Spring Champion Stakes 2015 next month.

An $11 shot for the Group 1, Spring Stakes third placegetter at Newcastle Gold Ambition could also take on his last start conqueror in the Gloaming this weekend.

The Bjorn Baker-trained son of Savabeel was beaten only a quarter length in the Group 3, improving notably on a ninth in the Ming Dynasty the run before.

Along with the in-form Devil Hawk who has won two of his past three starts now, Waller has also nominated for Choisir colt Battle Of Hastings whose three runs to date have all been at Newcastle and last start Warwick Farm winner over the mile Vanbrough in the Gloaming.

Battle Of Hastings was one and quarter lengths away third to the Gerald Ryan-trained Flying Achilles last Friday, the winner of that race nominated for the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill this Saturday as well as the Gloaming.

After a two and a quarter length win over the 1600m last start, Waller’s consistent Encosta De Lago colt Vanbrough is another top early chance for the Spring Champion at a futures price of $10.

Other hopes for Saturday’s showdown coming off nice lead-up form include the Team Hawkes-trained Jadeer who was runner-up to Vanbrough last start and David Payne’s local Artie Schiller gelding Over The Air coming off back-to-back seconds at Kembla Grange.

Check out the current Gloaming Stakes 2015 nominations below then back your favourites for this weekend and the upcoming Group 1s including the Spring Champion Stakes through Ladbrokes.com.au at the guaranteed best price!

2015 Gloaming Stakes Nominations

Rosehill Racecourse – 26/09/2015