George Main Test For Sweynesse & Hauraki
Sweynesse and Hauraki return to Royal Randwick, Australia, on Saturday, September 19 for the mile Group One Colgate Optic White Stakes, which is registered as the George Main Stakes.
Time/Date - 15.45hrs local time/Saturday, September 19, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Royal Randwick/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m
Sweynesse and Hauraki return to Royal Randwick, Australia, on Saturday, September 19 for the mile Group One Colgate Optic White Stakes, which is registered as the George Main Stakes.
Both four-year-olds made their seasonal return in the Group Two Tramway Stakes over seven furlongs at the Sydney course on September 5, with Sweynesse finishing ninth, a length ahead of Hauraki in 10th.
Sweynesse (John O'Shea/James McDonald) ran superb races in Group One company at the same track last season, coming home second over a mile in the Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas in March and taking third in the 10-furlong Moet & Chandon Spring Champion in October.
The Lonhro colt also gained a pair of Group Three victories in September, 2014, including a length success in the Gloaming Stakes over nine furlongs at Rosehill Gardens.
Hauraki (John O'Shea/Sam Clipperton) stayed on strongly for a fine second in the 12-furlong Group One BMW Australian Derby at Royal Randwick in April and powered to a comprehensive win in the Group Two Tulloch Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Rosehill Gardens in March.
John O'Shea said: "Sweynesse has made dramatic improvement since his first start over 1,400 metres in wet ground.
"This week he has a good gate (four) as well as good stats over the mile at Randwick. He only has one blemish on his record over the mile which was the Doncaster Stakes in April when he probably had enough but he comes into this weight-for-age race from a good gate, looks to map well and is going particularly well.
"Hauraki has improved dramatically from his first start and, from gate 10, will be ridden conservatively. I couldn't be happier with him - he is really in the zone.
"Whether he can win may be disputed, but he will take huge improvement from this run and has the class to be competitive here."
Sweynesse and Hauraki oppose eight rivals including Kermadec and Royal Descent, first and third in the Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick in April, dual Group One winner L
Sweynesse wins the Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill Gardens © Bradley Photographers
