Gatsby's should get pace to chase again in San Domenico

There may be Group 1 sprint stakes in Australia in the short-term future of Gatsby’s, provided the colt runs to expectations in Friday’s Group 3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney.

Gatsby’s won his first start in five months in the Rosebud Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Aug. 17, and will race at the same distance in the $136,000 San Domenico Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds.

Similar to his recent win, Gatsby’s will have a pace to follow. In the San Domenico Stakes, Mayfair is likely to set the pace in his stakes debut following a win in a minor handicap at six furlongs on July 20.

The San Domenico Stakes serves as a prep race for the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs on Sept. 28.

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Gatsby’s, trained by Chris Waller, was the even-money favorite in early betting on Thursday, a slight choice over the capable Storm Boy at 7-5. Storm Boy won his first four starts and was later third in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at six furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in March.

The $3.28 million Golden Slipper is the world’s richest race for juveniles.

The San Domenico Stakes will be Storm Boy’s first start since a fourth-place finish in Group 1 Inglis’ Sires Produce Stakes at seven furlongs in April.

Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program beginning at 9:45 p.m. Eastern or 6:45 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Australia’s richest race on Friday evening is the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne.

The 7-year-old mare Pride of Jenni was the slight favorite at 3-2 in early betting ahead of the gelding Mr Brightside at 8-5.

Although Pride of Jenni and Mr Brightside were first and third in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in April, Mr Brightside may have a slight edge in the $510,300 Memsie Stakes, which drew a field of seven.

Mr Brightside, 7, has won twice in his career after layoffs, while Pride of Jenni is winless in six starts after layoffs of at least three months. One of those losses was a nose defeat behind Mr Brightside in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield in February, however.

Mr Brightside won the 2023 Memsie, part of a five-race winning streak that included three of the veteran gelding’s six carer Group 1 wins.

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