Pariah no outcast for San Domenico

Pariah will take an important step towards the Group One Golden Rose when he begins his three-year-old campaign in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill.

The colt, who has raced exclusively in black-type races since winning the Group Three Canonbury Stakes on debut in January, spearheads trainers Peter and Paul Snowden’s two-pronged attack on the Group Three 1100m-feature.

“He’s in very good order. It’s a good kick-off point for him,” Paul Snowden said.

The runner-up to Catchy in his first Group One experience in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February, Pariah was unable to cope with a heavy track in the Golden Slipper in March, running 11th.

With Rosehill expected to present as good on Saturday, Snowden’s prime concern was drawing the outside gate.

“He’s drawn a little bit awkward but there seem to be a little bit of speed out there with him,” he said.

“I have to map out a plan. Hopefully they run along a bit. They might string them out a bit and if they don’t he has one or two to cart him across.”

The absence of Lindsay Park Stable three-year-old filly Tulip who is lining up in the Johnnie Walker Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley, should also be a positive although Snowden is not complacent about the favourite.

“He’s definitely matured but it’s not a one-horse race,” he said.

Pariah is at $2.30 and is being aimed at the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 23, with his lead-up run to be determined by how he fares this weekend.

Stablemate Taking Aim ($12) could follow the same path providing the colt performs well when he lines up for the first time since his third in Group One J J Atkins (1600m) at Doomben in June.

“I think Saturday will determine if we stay in Sydney and look towards a Run To The Rose, a Golden Rose or we might shift him off down to Melbourne a bit earlier,” Snowden said.