Jockey Dylan Gibbons is confident that if Under Focus begins cleanly in the Golden Rose, the colt is capable of featuring prominently in the race.
The three-year-old made his task difficult when he was slow out of the gates in the Run To The Rose (1200m), but he showed his best work in the closing stages to secure third place behind Warwoven and St Gotthard.
Before that effort, he finished in the midfield from a wide barrier in the Rosebud (1100m). However, with a favourable inside draw of four on Saturday, Gibbons believes he is a serious contender.
“First-up the draw cost him but he ran well,” Gibbons said.
“The other day he just sat down as the gates opened, but he was probably going to end up in that spot no matter what.
“When they backed the speed off, it was going to be hard to win, but I thought the fact he was able to go past a horse like Central Europe and make up two lengths on St Gotthard, that’s probably as good as he could have done from that position.
“(From that) alley, if he can jump a bit better and execute, there’s no reason why he can’t be in the top three.”
Under Focus, priced at $11, has the favourite Guest House drawn directly to his outside, and Gibbons acknowledges the latter as the horse to beat.
However, the Golden Slipper winner’s somewhat unusual preparation, coming directly to this race after a first-up win in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m), coupled with the fact that he, like Under Focus, has not been tested over 1400m, gives Gibbons hope of finding a weakness.
“He’s had to take an untraditional route, so he’s a keen horse going second-up into a 1400,” Gibbons stated.
“He’s obviously the one to beat, but there are a few little things there that aren’t ideal for him.
“If that gets him a bit fired up, or the tempo’s not strong enough for him, it might just ruffle his feathers a little bit.
“But he has put the writing on the wall first-up, so he’ll get the respect he deserves.
“With my bloke, he’s been racing against the other ones, and I feel he’s on terms with them.”
Under Focus is trained by Gibbons’ former mentor, Kris Lees, with both aiming for their inaugural win in this prestigious stallion-making event.
The duo has previously celebrated Group 1 success with Kalapour in the 2024 Tancred Stakes (2400m), and Lees feels Under Focus has had the ideal preparation.
“We’ve been really happy with his two return runs. Obviously, just stepping a little slow in the Run To The Rose was costly but he worked home well,” Lees commented.
“He’s come through it nicely. I’m really happy with where he’s at.”
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