As expected, Golden Slipper winner Overreach is missing from this week’s Run To The Rose with Slipper runner-up Sidestep heading the entries for Saturday’s Group Three race.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Overreach is also likely to miss Sydney’s richest spring race, the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) two weeks after Saturday’s lead-up, the winner of which is exempt from ballot.
Criterion is the second highest-rated horse among the 15 nominations and has a win over Sidestep in the Black Opal Stakes to his credit.
Trainer David Payne elected to give Criterion three barrier trials ahead of his return at Rosehill where he will be partnered by Christian Reith.
After his Black Opal win, Criterion beat Fast `N’ Rocking to win the Todman Stakes before running sixth in both the Golden Slipper and the Champagne Stakes won by Sidestep’s stablemate Guelph.
“He had a good spell and has developed,” Payne said.
“He has always been a lean horse, and he still is, but is a bit taller and will appreciate it when the races get longer.
“The idea is to get to the Golden Rose and after that we will decide whether he goes to the Caulfield Guineas or stays in Sydney and heads to the Spring Champion Stakes over the 2000 metres.”
The Run To The Rose (1200m) will determine whether Va Pensiero heads to the Golden Rose or is kept to the shorter sprints.
The race also heralds the much anticipated return of the Chris Waller-trained Zoustar, runner-up in the Group One J J Atkins during the Brisbane winter carnival.
The talented colt had won his three previous starts including the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The only filly among Saturday’s entries is Spurrendous from the Patinack Farm team which claimed the Silver Shadow Stakes with Thump.
Sidestep heads markets for the Golden Rose at $4.60 with TAB fixed odds ahead of Zoustar at $6.
Criterion is a $13 chance while former favourite Overreach is now listed as unlikely and may head straight to Melbourne to be prepared for the Thousand Guineas in October.
