Chris Waller cannot separate his two Golden Rose runners, believing both Kubrick and Yes Yes Yes have taken the necessary steps from their two-year-old to three-year-old season.
One thing in Kubrick’s favour is his close second in the J J Atkins Stakes, the final Group One race of 2018/19 for juveniles but more importantly over 1600 metres, a grounding for Saturday’s 1400m-race at Rosehill.
Prince Fawaz won the Atkins while Castelvecchio took out the Champagne Stakes also over 1600m.
Those two are among the outsiders in Saturday’s Golden Rose with Castelveccio at $13 and Prince Fawaz $34 in the eight-horse field.
“It’s hard to separate the two,” Waller said.
“Now is the time for them to prove themselves. They are both looking to make their names as stallions.
“Hopefully one can do that on Saturday. The race will tell us a lot as to whether to go to the Caulfield Guineas over 1600 metres or the Coolmore over 1200.”
Godolphin colt Bivouac remains favourite at $3.20 although he is yet to be tested beyond 1200 metres while Exceedance, considered Bivouac’s main rival at $3.80, will also step into new territory.
Bivouac’s trainer James Cummings says the colt gives the indication he should handle the distance.
“He really flew to the line in the Run To The Rose and put in a fantastic Golden Rose trial,” he said.
“Bivouac has got to get up and do it. I’d say that he’s going to be ready to run another big race.”
Waller won the Golden Rose in 2013 with Zoustar who stands at Widden Stud and was successful again last year with The Autumn Sun who has begun stallion duties at Arrowfield this season.
Cummings celebrated his first Group One win with Hallowed Crown in the 2014 Golden Rose when in partnership with his grandfather Bart Cummings.