Run To The Rose can answer many questions
HOW good is Exceedance? Is Yes Yes Yes an Everest contender? Could Dawn Passage be racing’s next big thing? Can Bivouac bounce back? Will Kubrick or Prince Fawaz make a statement?
These questions and more will be answered at Rosehill tomorrow when this exciting group of three-year-olds clash in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m).
This race has been a reliable guide to the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 28 in recent years with Hallowed Crown (2014), Exosphere (2015) and Astern (2016) completing the double.
The winner of tomorrow’s race will almost certainly be favourite for the coveted threeyear-old classic.
There is a feeling this season’s three-year-old crop is way above average, with Exceedance creating a huge impression in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes when resuming late last month.
Exceedance is a $2.20 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Run To The Rose, and he’s $4 favourite for the Golden Rose, but his trainer John Hawkes puts some perspective into the debate about the quality of this season’s three-year-olds.
“They are nice bunch of young horses but they have to go on with it,’’ he said. “It’s very early in the season and they have to keep producing.
Hawkes said Exceedance came through his first-up win in very good order. “He seems fine, he came through that race on the heavy track with no problems, we are happy with him,’’ Hawkes said.
“This is a different race, obviously, but we are in the mix. He has a very good turn of foot and that helps.’’
The Hawkes stable is in top form, with eight city winners from their past 18 runners.