One of two Group 2 events on The BMW Day card in Sydney on Saturday sees the three-year-old colts and geldings face off in the Tulloch Stakes 2016, nominations for which are led by Phar Lap Stakes winner Hattori Hanzo.

Hattori Hanzo (middle) backs up from his Phar Lap Stakes win with another possible run in the 2016 Tulloch Stakes on The BMW Day at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart.

A total of 21 young staying types make up the early entries for this year’s $175,000 Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Racecourse, a traditional lead-up to the follow weekend’s $2 million Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Cranbourne-trained Sebring gelding Hattori Hanzo isn’t currently nominated for the 2016 Australian Derby on April 2, but is in flying form ahead of the Tulloch Stakes where he’ll be after his fourth win on the trot.

His latest start was the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 12, a race he held on narrowly to win in a fine effort.

Along with the Phar Lap winner, Michael Kent also has Data Point in the mix on Saturday, a lightly-raced son of Lonhro who finished a credible sixth in the Randwick Guineas earlier in the month.

Defeated just a short half-head in the Phar Lap Stakes was the Luke Price-trained Man Of Choice from Nowra, a Group 1 placegetter when third to Vanbrugh in October’s Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

He too is nominated for a rematch in Saturday’s Tulloch Stakes, the Manhattan Rain gelding currently rated a $26 chance in futures Australian Derby betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Those markets are firmly led by the odds-on favourite Tarzino ($1.80) after his win in last Saturday’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

The shortest-priced of the Tulloch Stakes nominees in all-in ATC Derby odds however paying $17 to score the upset is the John O’Shea-trained Old North.

A first-up winner at Warwick Farm carrying 60.5kg, the nicely-bred Lonhro colt appreciated the drop down in weights in the Phar Lap Stakes crossing under a half-length fourth in blanket finish.

He covered ground late and sees further than that for the first time if accepted into the capacity 14-starter Tulloch Stakes field this weekend.

The next best Derby hopes nominated for this Saturday’s lead-up are $21 shots Balmain Boy and River Wild.

Duporth grey Balmain Boy has run seventh in his two runs this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival when five lengths off Press Statement first-up in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and a similar margin off Le Romain in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 5.

He looks to be in easier company in the Tulloch Stakes, the Les Bridge-trained youngster also expected to finish closer covering more ground.

Gai Waterhouse prepares Fastnet Rock colt River Wild, the three-time winner fourth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington two back to Palentino before his Rosehill Guineas fifth to Tarzino only last Saturday.

Proven at the 2000m distance meanwhile is the Barbara Joseph & Paul Jones-trained Canberra galloper Alfden.

He has had three runs over these metres for two seconds and a win and is racing in black-type company for the first time if accepted for his big city debut in Sydney.

Other notable entries include the Chris Waller-trained Multifacets who has won two of his past three starts, the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Encosta De Lago colt Sovereign Nation who was fourth in last year’s Caulfield Guineas and Tatoosh looking to return to form for Newcastle’s Paul Perry.

See below for the complete Tulloch Stakes 2016 nominations ahead of the final field on Wednesday, followed by the release of the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost!

2016 Tulloch Stakes Nominations

Rosehill Gardens – 26/03/2016