Excitement builds at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday, 13 August with San Domenico Day marking only four weeks to the opening Group 1 event of the Sydney Spring Carnival, De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Day.
Free entry will be given to all ClubsNSW Western Metropolitan club members when they present their membership card at the gates.
The offer is also extended to NSW State Emergency Services Volunteers and NSW Volunteer Rescue Association members dressed in their full uniform.
The Group 3 $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes is one of the launching pads for three-year-old’s into their spring campaigns, however it has been a race that has proved to be difficult for the previous season’s Longines Golden Slipper winner.
Seven winners of the world’s richest two-year old race have contested the San Domenico Stakes over its 35 years with five of them, Flying Spur (1995), Calaway Gal (2002), Dance Hero (2004), Stratum (2005) and Vancouver (2015) unable to repeat their winning ways. Only two, Tierce in 1991 and Sir Dapper in 1983 have achieved the double.
Snowden Racing’s 2016 Longines Golden Slipper winner Capitalist ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds) will attempt to overturn those statistics as the colt resumes from a spell since his Slipper win back on 19 March.
Track conditions suit Gerald Ryan-trained Tango Rain who has opened on the second line of betting at $4.20 TAB Fixed Odds. The son of Manhattan Rain will be looking to maintain his unbeaten record of two wins from two starts when he faces the starter in the feature.
Punters cannot separate Cosmic Cube, Oxford Poet and Testashadow in the $85,000 Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club Spring Preview who have each opened as $4.60 TAB Fixed Odds favourites.
Both Cosmic Cube from the Waller stable and Testashadow for Gary Portelli will be returning to the track following a spell. Both have had barrier trials in the lead up to their return.
Oxford Poet will have his sixth run this preparation which has included a win in similar conditions in the Listed Winter Stakes on 16 July.
Matthew Smith has entered Zin Zan Eddie who closely follows in the betting at $6.00 TAB Fixed Odds. The seven-year-old chestnut will have his 30th career start this run.
The $85,000 ClubsNSW Handicap has 13 entries expected to contest the sprint including $2.80 TAB Fixed Odds favourite Kangarilla Joy for Snowden Racing who making her return to the track.
The well-bred Lonhro mare boasts a 50% winning strike rate, all over the 1100m, and has been successful first-up on two from two occasions.
Similarly, Snoopy ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) has also been successful in both of his first-up runs, however is untried over the shorter distance.