Premier field for Premiere Stakes
Monday, 14 August 2006: Regal Cheer and Mnemosyne are set to resume their rivalry in Saturday's star-studded Premiere Stakes at Rosehill.
The two were the standout Sydney fillies in the autumn, both claiming Group One victories.
The Joe Pride-trained Regal Cheer won the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in which Mnemosyne finished third before the latter got her revenge in the Queen Of The Turf over the same distance.
Pride is planning to step Regal Cheer up to 1600 metres this campaign with races like the Nestle Classic in Melbourne in mind and has engaged Glen Boss to ride her on Saturday.
Menmosyne is trained by John Hawkes for Bob Ingham's Woodlands Stud Syndicate and is one of four stable entries for the Premiere (1200m).
Binding, Paratroopers and Champagne Stakes winner Mentality are all scheduled to resume in the Group Two sprint.
Hawkes' Warwick Farm neighbour Guy Walter has nominated Imana, Johan's Toy and AJC Sires' Produce winner Excites.
Kathy O'Hara will ride Excites in the Premiere and tested him out in an exhibition gallop against Patezza between races at Randwick on Saturday.
"He felt good," O'Hara said.
"He's in a race that's a little bit short for him but he's fresh and he feels like he's come back really well."
The plan is to run Excites in the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) before a decision is made on the rest of the spring.
The colt has been entered in the major spring races in Melbourne including the Cox Plate but Walter is taking it one step at a time.
"We will know more after a couple of races," Walter said.
"I'm very pleased with how he has come back and he's entered for everything.
"Who knows, he might be a stayer. We have plenty of options with him."
Excites will have a solid gallop on his home track at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning.
Among the 14 entries for the Premiere is veteran Queensland sprinter St. Basil, winner of the 2005 Stradbroke Handicap.
The nine-year-old was put through his paces in a 1000m gallop between races at Doomben last week, clocking 33.09s for his final 600m.
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