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If any trainer knows what is required to win a Run to the Rose Stakes it is Peter Snowden whose sole runner this year will be the highly talented Sidestep.
This afternoon’s three-year-old feature will be the eighth renewal. The first renewal was held in 2004 when Doonan was successful but the 2007 renewal was not run due to EI.
Snowden has either trained or been assistant trainer to four previous winners Paratroopers (2005), El Cambio (2007), Desuetude (2008) and Denman (2009) and Sidestep will come into the race at least the equal of those previous winners.
Last season’s G1 Golden Slipper runner up behind Overreach, Sidestep has raced just once since a spell for an eye catching fourth in the G3 San Domenico Stakes over 1100m at Rosehill 14 days ago.
On that occasion Snowden removed the blinkers that had been fitted prior to his Golden Slipper run and it was clear during the race that he was not focussed on the task at hand. After being slow away, he settled down nearer last than first and raced ungenerously at the 800m before laying in badly in the home straight and proving difficult to ride out.
Even so, had the outside run presented itself at the 300m mark where he became held up for a time, Sidestep would still have been able to get home first. As it was he was beaten just over a length by Va Pensiero and was rapidly closing off on the line.
Today Snowden has elected to refit the blinkers and with regular rider Kerrin McEvoy back in the saddle Sidestep will present much fitter and be better suited by the increase in distance to 1200m.
Sidestep has been assumed to run off his Timeform rating of 119, the figure he ran to in the Golden Slipper. If repeated today he has the class to prevail.
That said this renewal is a race deep with chances, recent winter find Eurozone, Todman Stakes winner Criterion, Brisbane winter carnival star Zoustar, Windjammer and Dissident represent a serious challenge to Sidestep.
The unbeaten Eurozone from the James and Bart Cummings stable has continued to improve at each of his three career runs through June, July and early August, culminating in his hard fought win in the Listed Rosebud Stakes (1200m) at Randwick returning a new master Timeform rating of 106p last time out.
Eurozone handled the class rise of his Rosebud assignment comfortably. Under Hugh Bowman the long barrelled chestnut seemed to guide through his gears leading throughout to hold off Melbourne visitor Dissident by just over a length.
Eurozone improved his Timeform rating by eight pounds in the Rosebud and has more to give today making him the clear danger to Sidestep.
Windjammer who has always shown promise since his juvenile days cannot be left out of consideration.
The Bjorn Baker-trained colt resumed two back with an emphatic win in a benchmark 72 handicap over 1100m at Rosehill then last start stepped up in class considerably to tackle the G3 San Domenico Stakes.
Windjammer was not disgraced as he was forced to cover plenty of additional ground during the race before getting into a bumping duel in the home straight, mainly with Sidestep, before hanging on gamely for third placing.
No doubt he should improve again but he did register a new master Timeform rating of 106 in the San Domenico and faces a slightly harder task on this occasion.
The same class rise comment can also be levelled at Melbourne colt Dissident who resumed in the Rosebud for a solid second placing behind Eurozone.
This fellow had excellent juvenile form in Melbourne that saw him run a luckless seventh behind Miracles of Life in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes after winning a Blue Diamond Preview on debut.
That Melbourne form is holding up very well in the early three-year-old races so I am expecting this fellow to have taken enormous benefit from that fresh up run.
Timeform rated 110, Dissident looked good at Randwick. After settling near the rear of the field early, he cut the home turn corner when the field scouted wide thereby saving valuable ground.
After reaching the lead momentarily in the straight, Dissident tired over the concluding stages but held on for second.
A firmer track combined with a step up in distance will be to his advantage today, so don’t be surprised to see him run to a new Timeform peak.
The reappearance of Black Opal and Todman Stakes winner Criterion will be eagerly awaited. A most talented galloper and winner of three of his six career starts, Criterion ran sixth in both the Golden Slipper and Champagne Stakes but has been taken along steadily this time in work.
From the inform David Payne stable, Criterion has not been knocked about in three barrier trials leading into today’s race but condition wise he should be forward enough to race well, his wide barrier presenting the biggest issue for new rider Christian Reith.
Timeform rated 115, Criterion has the class to be right in the finish if the race unfolds to suit but from his wide draw, Criterion is likely to be giving the leaders a big start from the home turn.
The much hyped maiden galloper Cluster is an interesting runner but like some others here will find this race much tougher than his recent assignment when runner up in the San Domenico Stakes.
That was Cluster’s second career start and his first run this campaign so improvement is on the agenda.
Cluster worked home well in the San Domenico Stakes from worse than midfield on the home turn dashing home late after being held up in the home straight.
Cluster will have to go back again today from his outside barrier draw and there seems little doubt the colt will be even better suited when stepped up to 1400m or further.
Sit back and enjoy the contest.
