San Domenico on way to Golden Rose for Music Time

Canberra trainer Gratz Vella has shelved plans to run Music Time in The Kosciuszko, with the three-year-old to be aimed at even loftier targets.

Last season’s Black Opal winner and Golden Slipper placegetter was being targeted towards the $2 million Kosciuszko, a race restricted to country-trained sprinters, but a 60kg impost has seen the long-time ACT trainer bring forward Music Time’s spring goal.

Vella is now aiming to keep Music Time against his own age, with the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose on September 26 the All Too Hard gelding’s primary focus.

Music Time, who won three of his five starts as a juvenile, finished runner-up in a Randwick barrier trial over 1040m on August 14 and is set to resume in Saturday’s Group 3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill.

Other potential San Domenico rivals is Golden Slipper winner Guest House, Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unit Five, Bjorn Baker-trained pair Blue Door and Warwoven and Chris Waller’s duo of Central Europe and Diameter.