The 2015 Run To The Rose field has been released and seven talented three-year-olds are set to contest the Group 1 event that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Press Statement will return to the races in the 2015 Run To The Rose at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Press Statement has been included in the Run To The Rose field and the undefeated galloper will carry the top weight of 60 kilograms with Tye Angland in the saddle.
The son of Hinchinbrook started his racing career with two solid wins at Canterbury and Rosehill Gardens before he stamped himself as a horse to watch with an impressive victory in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben on June 6.
Press Statement has performed well in two barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens on August 4 and Warwick Farm on August 14, but Angland believes that the colt may require a run before he is able to produce his best form.
Chris Waller has a strong hand in the Run To The Rose and he has also included the in-form Japonisme in the acceptances for the Group 1 event.
Japonisme started his winter campaign with a win at Canterbury on July 8 and he added wins at Rosehill Gardens on July 18 and August 1 to his racing resume before he upset Golden Slipper winner Vancouver to take out the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15.
Waller remains unsure whether Japonisme will press on to the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) in a fortnight and he could be freshened up for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Another trainer that has multiple runners in the 2015 Run To The Rose field is John O’Shea, who has included both Exosphere and Holler in the acceptances for the $175,000 event.
Exosphere stamped himself as one of the most talented two-year-olds in the country when he recorded a dominant four lengths win in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28, but he suffered a cardiac arrhythmia when he finished at the tail of the field in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Holler was given a freshen-up after he finished a close fourth in the Australian Jewel Liquidators Plate (1100m) at Royal Randwick on June 6 and he will need to improve to be a winning chance in the Run To The Rose.
Gai Waterhouse opted not to run Vancouver in the Run To The Rose, but she will still be represented in the race by Raphael’s Cat.
Waterhouse has been thrilled with the recent trackwork of Raphael’s Cat and he started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with an impressive win in the More Than Ready At Vinery Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on August 19.
Redzel failed to fire in the San Domenico Stakes, but has also been included in the Run To The Rose field, while Tony Noonan-trained Mr Optimistic will return to the races in the Group 2 event.
