Damien Oliver reunites with Victoria Derby winner Preferment in the Rosehill Guineas as the colt steps up to his most suitable distance this campaign.
Oliver’s book of rides on Saturday includes Hong Kong visitor Dominant in the Group One Ranvet Stakes, Sacred Falls in the George Ryder and Speak Fondly in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
The Chris Waller-trained Preferment has finished back in the field in his two autumn starts in Sydney in the Hobartville Stakes and Randwick Guineas over 1400m and 1600m respectively.
Oliver’s two rides on the son of Zabeel in the spring netted a close second to Nozomi in the Geelong Classic before the colt’s Derby win at Flemington.
“I think he’s getting to his right distance now so I’d expect to see some improvement from him,” Oliver said.
“He’s not the type of horse you’d expect too much from at a mile but up to 2000 metres you’d expect to see him start to show some better form.”
The Guineas field will include dual Group One winner Hallowed Crown who will be stretched to 2000 metres for the first time.
Dominant is one of the interesting runners in the Ranvet Stakes in his first Australian appearance.
The John Moore-trained seven-year-old won the 2013 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and was fourth in the same race last December behind Flintshire.
At his most recent start, Dominant was third to Hong Kong star and stablemate Designs On Rome in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1800m) at Sha Tin.
The winner of five of his 30 starts, Dominant is housed at the Canterbury quarantine centre along with the four Japanese horses in Sydney for autumn features.
“He’s proven himself against some of the better stayers in Hong Kong, even winning on International Day (in 2013) when the Europeans have been there,” Oliver said.
“So if he brings his best form, he would be a chance.”
