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The quantity has increased but there is little improvement in the quality to face classy colt Albrecht in Saturday's $250,000 Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Stan Fox nominations were extended on Monday after only five horses were entered.
By today's deadline the number had increased to 15 but trainer John Thompson has already advised that his two entries Maury and Trophies will not be starting.
They were among the original five along with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Kabayan and Magic Shaft, from the stable of Kiwi trainer John Sargent.
The additional entries include three interstate three-year-olds from Victoria – Let Go Lenni (Mick price), Mama's Choice (David Hayes) and Subiaso (Robbie Laing).
Albrecht's trainer Peter Snowden has boosted the numbers with stablemate Perdicaris while other local late entries include Divine Moon (Bart Cummings), Fiveandahalfstar (Anthony Cummings), Chez Harmony (David Payne) and Kyria (Grahame Begg).
Albrecht will be favoured to give Peter Snowden his second Stan Fox Stakes success in the last four runnings after his photo finish second to stablemate Epaulette in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 15.
Snowden won the Golden Rose-Stan Fox Stakes with Denman in 2009 but has already sent this year's winner Epaulette to Melbourne where he will run in the Guineas Prelude over 1400m at Caulfield on Sunday.
The switch suits stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy as he will be able to ride Albrecht on Saturday at Rosehill before flying to Melbourne to take over as Epaulette's rider from his Golden Rose jockey Tommy Berry.
McEvoy had the choice of rides in the Golden Rose and was outpointed by Berry when he swept home from last on Epaulette to win the $1 million feature by a head.
Albrecht won the Up And Coming Stakes over 1300m at Warwick Farm before the Golden Rose and remains a chance to join Epaulette in Melbourne for the $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 13.
Snowden had intended to give Albrecht a rest following the Stan Fox Stakes but says he is now contemplating extending his campaign to Melbourne.,
"I originally thought it would be too much for him as he is still really only in his first preparation," Snowden said.
"But I've been really impressed with how he has bounced back from the Golden Rose.
"I'll assess him after Saturday but there is a genuine chance he could end up in Melbourne."
Snowden says Epaulette is well prepared for his Melbourne debut at Caulfield, a track that is often the undoing of horses from Sydney.
"I've been working him the reverse way for about five weeks so we have put a lot of preparation into him," Snowden said.
Epaulette's three-quarter brother Helmet won the Guineas Prelude last year before going on to beat Golden Rose winner Manawanui in the Caulfield Guineas.
McEvoy believes there is nothing between Albrecht and Epaulette although the latter may be the one open to most improvement from the Golden Rose.
"Both were pretty breathtaking runs the other day," he said.
"Epaulette is still learning his trade as is Albrecht, so there's no way they've been bottomed out. We haven't seen the best of them yet."