Shooting To Win will have the opportunity to record his maiden win at Group level at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday after he was included in the 2014 Stan Fox Stakes field.
Scissor Kick and Valentina have both been included in the 2014 Stan Fox Stakes field. Photo by: Steve Hart
Shooting To Win started his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a lackluster eighth place finish in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on August 23, but stamped himself as a colt to watch with a second place finish in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 before working home strongly to finish third in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 13.
Trainer Peter Snowden has been happy with the form of Shooting To Win during his racing career to date, but he believes that the Northern Meteor colt still has plenty of improvement in front of him heading into the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) this weekend.
“He showed a glimpse of what he has got I feel and he is a very talented colt,” Snowden said.
“Hopefully everything falls into place on Saturday and he can show what he can do.”
Shooting To Win will have seven rivals in the 2014 Stan Fox Stakes and they include Golden Rose Stakes runner-up Scissor Kick.
Scissor Kick started his spring campaign with a win at Canterbury on July 23 and he took out the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) before scoring a narrow victory in the Up And Coming Stakes.
The Redoute’s Choice colt was trapped four wide in the early stages of the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m), but he was still able to work home strongly and was only caught by Hallowed Crown in the shadows of the post.
The Paul Perry-trained duo of Modoc and Scratch Me Lucky and Spring Champion Stakes hopeful Bachman will also back-up in the Stan Fox Stakes after running in the Golden Rose.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse elected not to run Valentina in the Golden Rose Stakes, but the Fastnet Rock colt has been included in the Stan Fox Stakes field as well as the acceptances for the Gloaming Stakes.
Valentina returned to racing with an unlucky third in the Up And Coming Stakes and was slightly disappointing in the Ming Dynasty Quality, but is set to produce an improved performance on top of the ground this weekend.
The Stan Fox Stakes field is rounded out by Anthony Cummings-trained Volley Of Fire and debut winner Award Of Merit.
