Nominations for the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) have been extended after only nine horses were entered for the $125,000 race that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Law is one of nine three-year-olds that have been included in the nominations for the San Domenico Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Veteran Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan has a strong team of three-year-olds heading into the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and he is set to have both Washington Heights and Ygritte in the Group 3 event this weekend.
Washington Heights only had one race start as a two-year-old, finishing second behind Hallowed Crown in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), but Ryan believes that the Commands colt could be in for a big spring campaign and he has been included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
Ryan said last week that he has been impressed with the way that Ygritte has returned as a three-year-old and he is hopeful that the Snitzel filly can breakthrough for a maiden win at Group level after she finished second in the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m), Group 3 Breeders Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Royal Randwick Stakes (1200m) during the autumn.
The San Domenic Stakes will also feature the reappearance of a couple of Gai Waterhouse-trained gallopers after she included both Hampton Court and Wandjina in the San Domenico Stakes.
Hampton Court will be appearing at the races for the first time since he failed to fire on a heavy track in the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and he is in contention for a shot at Group 1 level in the Golden Rose Stakes (1400m), while Wandjina was competitive in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) during the autumn and impressed onlookers with two impressive barrier trials efforts at Royal Randwick on July 18 and August 1.
The other stable that could have multiple runners in the 2014 San Domenico Stakes field is Team Hawkes, who have both Nostradamus and Bugatty in the nominations after they ruled Mossfun out of the race yesterday.
One of the most interesting runners in the San Domenic Stakes nominations is Law, who joined the stable of Chris Waller after he finished at the tail of the field in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5.
Law was touted as a leading contender for the Golden Slipper after he won the Listed New South Wales Breeders Plate (1000m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but was slightly disappointed in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) before his Golden Slipper flop.
Sheer Style has already had three race starts this preparation and will be heading into the San Domenico Stakes with a fitness edge after she finished second behind Inkling in the Early Quaddie Handicap (1150m) at Randwick on July 26, while Bold Circle could back-up after finishing at the tail of the field in the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9.
Extended nominations for the San Domenico Stakes will close at 11AM tomorrow morning.
