Golden Slipper winner Vancouver will head straight to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas and will not start in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12.
Vancouver will miss the Golden Rose Stakes and head to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas.Photo by Steve Hart.
Bloodstock agent James Bester representing part owners Coolmore Stud, told Sky Sports Radio this morning that Vancouver would now be set exclusively for the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10.
“The owners would rather see him at his peak and the decision has been made to bypass the Golden Rose,” Bester told Sky Sports Radio.
“He will be set now for the Caulfield Guineas.”
Vancouver was a brilliant winner for the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and had been the early favourite for the $1 million race for the three year olds at Rosehill.
But a first up defeat when fourth to the Chris Waller trained Japonisme in the Group 3 $125,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 15 and a subsequent lacklustre barrier trial third at Rosehill on September 1 saw the Medaglia D’Oro colt lose his spot at the top of the Golden Rose market order.
Today’s announcement has seen the John O’Shea trained Exosphere shorten up to be the $2.60 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au after the colt resumed for a first up win in the Group 2 $175,000 MTA NSW The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse reported this morning that Vancouver was in fine shape and she had nothing but superlatives in describing the three year old colt.
“I can’t fault the horse, he’s glorious in his action and he’s very, very happy in his demeanour,” Waterhouse said.
“I thought his first run was excellent. He’s not an outright speed horse now, he’s more a middle-distance horse, and that’s what he’s developed into.”
Vancouver was the winner of his first four race starts before suffering his first defeat in the San Domenico Stakes and has earned almost $2.4 million in prizemoney.
In early Caulfield Guineas markets Vancouver is on the third line of betting at $7 behind Press Statement at $5 and Melbourne colt Ready For Victory at $6.
