St Gotthard poised for Run To The Rose challenge
The considerable, yet largely unproven, talent of the colt St Gotthard is set to be unveiled when he contests a strong field of three-year-olds in a vital lead-up to the Golden Rose at Rosehill.
As a sibling to the promising young sire Switzerland, St Gotthard faces his most significant test in Saturday's Run To The Rose over 1200 metres. He will be up against eleven other hopefuls, including Music Time, who finished well in the Golden Slipper, and the highly regarded Warwoven.
St Gotthard entered the two-year-old racing circuit later than some, achieving a debut victory at Warwick Farm in April. This was followed by a dazzling performance to secure the Listed Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast by four lengths in his only other start.
His performances have propelled him to second favouritism for the Golden Rose, and trainer Chris Waller is keen to gauge his progress against tougher opposition on Saturday, especially with the spring carnival features on his radar.
"He is probably a little unknown," Waller said. "The others have been racing in Group One, elite company and he is the up-and-comer, winning by good margins. He looks like he has come back really well. He has thickened up and furnished, got a bit of muscle and power. He is more the sprinter, being a brother to Switzerland, and we know a little bit about him as well (in regards to) what the pedigree is like."
Sharing stable honours in the race will be Group 1 winner Fireball and Tron Bolt, alongside Central Europe. Meanwhile, Stormy Marco has been withdrawn, with connections preferring the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
Fireball concluded his juvenile campaign with a win in the Champagne Stakes (1600m). While he possesses the ability to sprint effectively fresh, Waller anticipates the gelding will find his optimal form as distances lengthen.
"He did a great job at two. He won three or four races. He was there at the start of the two-year-old season, and he won a Champagne," Waller commented. "He will be disadvantaged in the Run To The Rose - he will have to carry a penalty for being a Group One winner. But the Golden Rose is when he'll start to put his hand up and hopefully onto a Caulfield Guineas."
Only a select group of six horses have managed to achieve the Run To The Rose and Golden Rose double, with Bivouac being the last to accomplish this feat in 2019.
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