In-form Wyong-trained improver Echo Effect is one of the headline three-year-olds nominated for the Phar Lap Stakes 2017 at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse this weekend in Sydney.

Foxplay is nominated for both the 2017 Phar Lap Stakes and Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Racecourse on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

One of the key support acts on Coolmore Classic Day, the $200,000 Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) drew sixteen original entries with Racing NSW extending nominations until 11am (AEDT) on Tuesday.

Of the current nominees one of the highest-rated is the Kristen Buchanan-trained Reset gelding Echo Effect who comes off three top three runs this time in.

The latest saw him step up in class for a narrow second behind Man From Uncle in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill where he is down to return on Saturday.

There is a chance Echo Effect, who is nominated for the $3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 1, could chase a ballot exemption for that feature with a run against the older horses in the $200,000 Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) instead on Saturday.

Also dually nominated at Rosehill including holding a Phar Lap Stakes entry is the Chris Waller-trained Foxwedge filly Foxplay.

A dual Group 2 winner at Royal Randwick last September, the smart young grey has had two runs this season for a second in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m).

She returns to Rosehill Gardens under race conditions for the first time since last winter and could miss the Phar Lap Stakes in favour of a Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) start against the older mares.

Coming off a last start win are Cosmic Set who saluted over the Phar Lap Stakes distance at Moonee Valley in late February, Jason Coyle’s Wyong winning filly Siren’s Fury and Waller’s other entry Dawn Wall.

A nicely-bred daughter of Fastnet Rock, Dawn Wall comes off back-to-back February wins over 1550m at Canterbury and 1800m at Rosehill respectively.

Having taken out the Rosehill event by two lengths, she could be looking for more distance making the drop back to 1500m a test.

Other notable hopes include the John O’Shea-trained son of Helmet Achi Baba, the fellow Godolphin-raced Street Cry colt Bezel out to atone for a first-up eighth in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes and Faraway Town.

Matthew Smith’s Not A Single Doubt filly Faraway Town ran a brave fifth in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast two back and was last seen running second to Invincible Gem in the Group 3 Spring takes (1600m) at Randwick.

Invincible Gem franked that form last Saturday with her gutsy second behind Inference in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) run on a Heavy (10) track, which bodes well for Faraway Town on Saturday.

The Phar Lap Stakes will be the filly’s fifth run at Rosehill and she is a proven Group 1 performer having crossed third to Yankee Rose in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and fourth to Prized Icon in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Check out the current Phar Lap Stakes 2017 nominations below, the field and betting markets from Ladbrokes.com.au out on Wednesday.

2017 Phar Lap Stakes Nominations

Rosehill Gardens – 11/03/2017