The exciting colt St Gotthard is set to have his untapped potential showcased as he prepares for a significant test against a high-calibre field of three-year-olds in a crucial lead-up event for the Golden Rose at Rosehill.
As a sibling to the emerging sire Switzerland, St Gotthard faces his most demanding challenge to date in Saturday’s Run To The Rose (1200m). He is slated to compete against eleven other rivals, including Music Time, a placegetter in the Golden Slipper, and the highly rated Warwoven.
St Gotthard’s introduction to the two-year-old racing circuit was delayed, but he quickly made an impact with a midweek win on debut at Warwick Farm in April. He followed this with a spectacular performance to clinch the Listed Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast by a commanding four lengths in his sole other start.
These results have firmly established him as the second favourite for the Golden Rose. With the major spring carnival races on the horizon, trainer Chris Waller is particularly keen to assess how his charge performs against this elevated level of competition on Saturday.
“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.”
St Gotthard will be accompanied in the race by his Group 1-winning stablemates Fireball and Tron Bolt, as well as Central Europe. Notably, Stormy Marco has been withdrawn from this event, with connections opting for the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) instead.
Fireball concluded his juvenile season on a high note with a victory in the Champagne Stakes (1600m). While the gelding has demonstrated an ability to sprint effectively when fresh, Waller anticipates he will reach his peak as the race distances increase.
“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 remarked. “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.”
Historically, only six horses have achieved the distinction of winning both the Run To The Rose and the subsequent Golden Rose, with Bivouac being the most recent to accomplish this feat in 2019.
Betting markets for the race are sure to be competitive with top online bookmakers.