![Unbeaten St Gotthard is on target to resume in the Run To The Rose as Chris Waller plots a path towards the spring's major three-year-old races. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2286086.jpg)
Chris Waller is set to saddle up five runners in the $1 million Golden Rose and while early markets rate St Gotthard as his best chance, the champion trainer says there is little separating his quintet.
A full brother to Switzerland, St Gotthard suffered his first defeat when a close second to Warwoven in the Run To The Rose (1200m) last start, a race that’s traditionally the key lead-up to Saturday’s feature.
He will be joined by stablemates Tron Bolt, Central Europe, Stormy Marco and Campione D’Italia in the Golden Rose (1400m) and Waller says all have claims regardless of next week’s barrier draw.
“It’s such a fair track, Rosehill, and over the 1400, there’s four hundred metres to the first bend,” Waller said.
“We’ve had some good success from bad draws. Going back to Zoustar, I think he drew the outside and (jockey) Jimmy Cassidy was even more confident. He said, ‘nothing will get in his way’. It’s not something you can worry about.
“I could make a case for all of them, to tell you the truth.”
San Domenico Stakes winner Guest House is a pre-post $2.80 favourite to become only the second horse after Forensics (2007-08) to capture the Golden Slipper-Golden Rose double.
St Gotthard occupies the second line of betting at $4.50, ahead of Warwoven ($6) and Tron Bolt ($7).
One horse who won’t be there is Champagne Stakes winner Fireball with Waller confirming he has been spelled after failing to fully recover from a virus.
A virus was also responsible for the race morning scratching of Sing Your Song from the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, snuffing out her chances of running in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) next month.
However, Waller does hope to salvage something from her spring, and she will be rerouted towards the Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) on Everest day ahead of a possible trip to Melbourne.
“That was a bit tough to take (on Saturday) morning, but that’s what happens, isn’t it?” Waller said.
Waller is still set to have a live chance in the Flight Stakes (1600m) courtesy of former Perth filly Striking Alibi, who was a luckless second to Bangkok Hottie in the Tea Rose.
