Chris Waller’s Group 1 placegetter Counterattack is the top-rated of the middle-distance gallopers nominated for the Shannon Stakes 2016 at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

Counterattack (outside) is nominated for both Sydney’s 2016 Shannon Stakes as well as the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in Melbourne this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

One of three Group 2 features on the Golden Pendant Day card on the weekend in Sydney, this season’s $175,000 Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) has attracted 10 early entries.

Among them is Waller’s four-year-old Redoute’s Choice stallion Counterattack last seen running a close second to stablemate Mackintosh in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) first-up at Rosehill on September 10.

As well as a possible return to the track for the Shannon Stakes, Counterattack also features in the nominations for the more prestigious $500,000 Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) down in Melbourne at Caulfield on Saturday.

Should Counterattack head south, Waller could still be represented in Saturday’s Shannon Stakes field by fellow nominee Cosmic Cube, the six-year-old out to improve on a last start eighth to Hauraki in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) in the wet at Randwick on September 3.

Following Counterattack (59kg) in the Shannon Stakes nominations and weights is the Hawkes Racing-trained Entirely Platinum (58.5kg).

The seven-year-old son of Pentire ran a good third first-up in mid-August at Caulfield in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m), before a disappointing 12^th of 13 runners two weeks ago at Flemington in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

He too is a dual nominee for the weekend also in the mix for Caulfield’s $500,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) over more metres.

The sole last start winner nominated for the Shannon Stakes this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival is the Tim Martin-trained Moral Victory, the evergreen Husson seven-year-old having taken out a Benchmark 85 over 1200m at the track a fortnight ago.

Up in class if he runs in the Shannon Stakes line-up, Moral Victory will drop from 57kg that run to the 53kg minimum on the weekend.

One of the likely favourites in Shannon Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au meanwhile is the Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained Hi World.

He drops from 57.5kg to 56kg and comes off a Flemington third behind Bon Aurum in Black-Type company over 1400m from September 10.

A six-year-old son of High Chaparral, Hi World hasn’t won a race since April of 2015 in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick and should relish a return to Sydney this season.

Also among the nominations are the John O’Shea-trained Group 2 winning Lonhro four-year-old Old North out to atone for a second last (9^th) in the Theo Marks first-up and the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Caped Crusader coming off a second to Moral Victory.

See below for the official Shannon Stakes 2016 nominations, the field and barriers along with odds from Ladbrokes.com.au set for release on Wednesday.

2016 Shannon Stakes Nominations

Rosehill Racecourse – 24/09/2016