John Messara is hoping exciting prospect Remarque can follow in the footsteps of Yes Yes Yes

A potential berth in The Everest could be up for grabs if regally-bred colt Remarque can win the San Domenico Stakes.

John Messara, the owner-breeder of Remarque, wants his boom colt to follow the trail blazed so successfully by Yes Yes Yes if he can win the Group 3 $160,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Kembla on Saturday.

Messara revealed his big-race ambitions for Remarque this spring include the Golden Rose and The TAB Everest - provided the three-year-old can prove his worth in the Kembla feature against the likes of likes of Stay Inside and Paulele.

“I think the San Domenico is a race that will tell us a lot about where Remarque fits in this spring,” Messara said. “It’s good news the track is drying out and with the small field, hopefully he gets a clear run from the turn.

John Messara, Arrowfield Stud boss and owner-breeder of Remarque, is hoping the San Domenico Stakes is the start of a campaign that leads to a slot in the Everest.

“I would like to see him have a good go at them in the straight so we can see what he can really do.”

Messara and The Star share a slot in the $15 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 16 and Remarque has the inside running for selection.

But Remarque’s immediate race program centres on the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 25.

This is the same program used for Yes Yes Yes two years ago when he became the only three-year-old so far to win The TAB Everest, smashing the Randwick 1200m track record in the process.

Yes Yes Yes was also aimed initially at the Golden Rose where he ran second to Bivouac before being freshened prior to winning The Everest.

“Fundamentally, our main aim with Remarque is the Golden Rose. I want to notch a Group 1 with this colt if possible,” Messara said.

“But The Everest comes into contention if he shows his prowess against this good field in the San Domenico.

Yes Yes Yes became the first, and so far only, three-year-old to win the Everest when victorious in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

“Yes Yes Yes showed you can come off the Golden Rose and freshen up into The Everest.”

The Team Hawkes-trained Remarque, a full brother to 2018 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab, has only been to the races three times for a brilliant debut win at Rosehill. He suffered a setback before finishing fifth to Anamoe in the Todman Stakes.

At his only run since, Remarque raced without luck when closing fast for third to Remarque in The Rosebud.

“We thought Remarque was our Golden Slipper horse but he contracted a virus after his debut win,” Messara said.

“He got over that and we ran him in the Todman Stakes but he wasn’t at his best and still finished alongside Stay Inside.

“Then in The Rosebud, he was pretty unlucky not to figure in the finish. I know John (Hawkes) is very happy with the colt so he gets his chance at Kembla.”

The San Domenico Stakes is shaping as a telling race for The Everest.

Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside is being mentioned as a possible The Everest contender so his comeback run in the San Domenico will be scrutinised by interested slot-holders.

Paulele could not have been more impressive winning The Rosebud and could also emerge as a possible Everest runner as owners Godolphin do hold a slot in the big race.

The Everest contender Masked Crusader kicks off his spring campaign in The Heath at Caulfield.

The Hawkes stable, which also saddles up the underrated Patton in the Group 3 $160,000 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at the Kembla meeting, is also set to unleash their brilliant sprinter Masked Crusader in the Group 3 $200,000 The Heath (1100m) at Caulfield.

After an outstanding autumn campaign that included a win in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes and second placing behind Nature Strip in the TJ Smith Stakes, Masked Crusader has already been selected for The Everest by slot-holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden.

Team Hawkes has chosen a low-key start for Masked Crusader’s Everest assault in The Heath where the gelding has topweight of 60kg and is rated $1.80 favourite.

The Caulfield meeting is shaping as an important Sydney spring carnival former reference with Ayrton and Aegon kicking off their campaigns towards the $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 30.

Ayrton, who is challenging for Golden Eagle favouritism, is resuming in the Open Handicap (1400m) to close out the Caulfield meeting.

Aegon, the crack New Zealand four-year-old, is taking on the likes of Behemoth in the Group 1 $1 million Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Originally published as John Messara is hoping exciting prospect Remarque can follow in the footsteps of Yes Yes Yes