Rose's Vision steps forward as Queen's Plate contender

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Chiefswood Stable entered a different horse in each leg of last year’s Canadian Triple Crown and came away with runner-up finishes in each race, with Tiz a Slam in the Queen’s Plate, Aurora Way in the Prince of Wales Stakes, and Final Copy in the Breeders’ Stakes. The stable’s depth is on display again this year in the lead-up to the Queen’s Plate, with top contenders Neepawa and Pipers Warrior along with Rose’s Vision, who has emerged in his last two starts.

Rose’s Vision made four starts last season as a 2-year-old, including a third-place finish in the Cup and Saucer Stakes and a pair of runner-up finishes in maiden races. After finishing eighth in his 3-year-old debut on dirt at Gulfstream Park in January, he’s won his last two starts, both on turf – a maiden race at Gulfstream on Feb. 24 and an allowance at Keeneland on April 12.

“We want to try the 3-year-olds on the dirt just to see where it can take you,” trainer Stuart Simon said. “He trained okay, but when we ran him, he didn’t relish it. He just started scrambling and couldn’t catch that gear he needed to to compete. We got him back on the turf. He ran well to break his maiden from an outside hole at Gulfstream, and then he ran even a better race at Keeneland. He’s really maturing and coming around at the right time.”

Simon said Rose’s Vision is on the Queen’s Plate trail and will start in the Grade 3, $125,000 Marine Stakes next Sunday.

“Hopefully, all goes well in the Marine and then the Plate,” he said.