An early decision by the Gerald Ryan stable not to back up Washington Heights this week has put the smart three year old out of contention for the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Ygritte, above, blue and red, and Bachman will represent Gerald Ryan in the Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia

Ryan had indicated over the weekend that there was a strong chance that Washington Heights could front up again this week after running down the track when sixth to Panzer Division in the Group 3 $125,000 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap (1400m) at Randwick last Saturday, but he has decided to leave the Commands colt home in his box this weekend.

Washington Heights was sent out the $2.60 favourite in the Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap after finishing second to Nostradamus at his previous start in the Group 3 $125,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 16.

But after settling near the tail of the field in the early stages, Washington Heights failed to make an impact on the heavy Randwick track and was beaten just under five lengths.

Ryan will now try to avoid rain affected tracks and head to either the Group 3 $150,000 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on September 17 or the Group 2 $200,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 27.

And if the wet weather is still hanging around in Sydney, Ryan will head to Melbourne looking for some firmer tracks.

“If it’s wet Stan Fox day, he’ll go to Melbourne that weekend,” Ryan told Racing Network.

Even with the non-appearance of Washington Heights, Ryan will still have two runners in the Golden Rose Stakes, All American colt Bachman and his smart Snitzel filly Ygritte.

Bachman will be having his first run back in the Golden Rose Stakes while Ygritte will get her chance against the males again after finishing third behind Hallowed Crown in the Group 3 $125,000 MTA NSW Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on August 30.

“Bachman is more a Derby horse but he’s nice and fresh so it will be interesting to see how he goes,’’ Ryan said.

“He probably can’t win it, but it just fits in nice for where we will head with him.

“It is two weeks all the way through then to either the Norman Robinson or the Champion Stakes and then two weeks to the Derby if you wanted to test him that far.

“The way he is going, he is going like a 2000 metres, 2400 metres horse.”

“Ygritte went really well in the Run To The Rose and she has improved since. We will are still weighing up our options with Washington Heights.’’

Ryan thinks that Bachman will develop into a good middle distance performer and is aiming him towards the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 1.

The Peter Moody trained Bring Me The Maid heads the betting for the Golden Rose Stakes at $4.20 just ahead of Bart and James Cummings’ Run To The Rose winner Hallowed Crown at $4.60.

Moody will also saddle up Better Land who shares the next line of betting at $8 just ahead of $9 chance Nostradamus from the Team Hawkes stables with Almalad is on the next line of betting at $11 just ahead of Scissor Kick, Panzer Division and Kumaon at $13, while Bachman and Ygritte are both marked at $26.