Co-trainer Paul Snowden is hopeful that Rose Of Choice can return to her best form when she contests the 2015 Civic Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.
Jay Ford has been booked to ride Rose Of Choice in the 2015 Civic Stakes. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Rose Of Choice started her winter campaign with a credible fifth place finish behind Divertire in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on May 16 and she fought on bravely after being caught wide to finish fourth behind Hazard in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on June 6.
The Choisir mare was given a maiden opportunity at the highest level of racing in the Tattersall’s Tiara at the Gold Coast on June 20, but she was settled towards the tail of the field by jockey Damian Browne in the early stages of the race and was never able to get into the contest.
Snowden believes that Rose Of Choice had plenty of excuses for her lackluster effort on a wet track in the Tattersall’s Tiara and he is confident that the five-year-old will produce an improved effort in the Civic Stakes on Saturday.
“We are not 100 percent sold that she is effective on a rain affected track,” Snowden said.
“She is from Perth and they don’t get too many wet tracks over there and the Tiara wasn’t a very strongly run race and the race got away from them, so it was a total forgive run.
“If she didn’t travel back in good order she certainly wouldn’t have carried on this preparation and that just gives us an indication of where she is at.
“I think she will run well on Saturday.”
Rose Of Choice will be joined in the 2015 Civic Stakes by stablemate Dothraki, who will carry the top weight of 59.5 kilograms in the Listed event on Saturday.
Dothraki started his winter campaign with a slightly disappointing performance in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 16, but he returned to winning form with a game victory over Target In Sight in the Group 3 Tattersall’s 150th Anniversary Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on June 20.
Rose Of Choice is currently available at 2015 Civic Stakes odds of $8.50 with Ladbrokes, while Dothraki ($3.40) is a clear favourite from June Stakes winner Wouldnt It Be Nice ($8), last start winner Two Blue ($8.50) and veteran sprinter See The World ($9).
