Since beginning her campaign with a buckjumping display, Shades Of Rose has strung together a hat-trick of impressive wins to earn herself a promotion to black-type company.
And while excited to see how she measures up, trainer Bjorn Baker admits there will be nowhere to hide when the mare takes on the likes of Tattersall’s Tiara winner Startantes and Group 1 placegetter Espiona in Saturday’s Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
“It’s a Group 2 race, it’s not expected to be easy,” Baker said.
“She’s doing everything very well and in trackwork she has been very relaxed and settled.
“We are happy with her but she’s going to have to jump up another level again on Saturday.”
After winning her first three starts at the backend of the summer, Shades Of Rose started her latest preparation in inglorious fashion, eased out of a race at Rosehill in July when her saddle slipped, causing her to buckjump.
She recovered to finish second to The Big Easy a couple of weeks later before embarking on a three-race winning streak, culminating with an emphatic last-start performance when she crunched her rivals by almost 4-1/2 lengths.
James McDonald was aboard for each of those wins but has committed to Espiona on Saturday, paving the way for Rachel King to jump back aboard Shades Of Rose, who has drawn the outside gate in the field of 13.
“Rachel has been riding her in all her work. She’s comfortable at the 54 (kilos) and she’s very happy to be on her and we’re happy to have her on,” Baker said.
“It’s an awkward gate. You’d like to be drawn closer, but she is in good order and we can’t fault her.”
Shades Of Rose and Espiona are vying for favouritism in early Sheraco Stakes markets with the former a narrow $3.30 top pick with TAB fixed odds on Wednesday, ahead of Espiona at $3.50.
Victorian Bella Nipotina ($8) is the only other runner at single-figures, the four-time stakes winner shooting for her second Sydney feature after claiming the Sapphire Stakes in the autumn.
