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The Rosehill Wrap - Golden Rose Day

by Alex Steedman ,
6 years ago

3 minute read

Race by race recap of key performers and ones to watch moving forward from Saturday’s Golden Rose Day meeting at Rosehill.

Trapeze Artist upstaged his more fancied stablemate Menari in the Golden Rose while history augers well for Assimilate who posted a closing fifth in the three-year-old feature event.

Trapeze Artist Picture: Racing and Sports

Race 1: Beau Geste - Benchmark 74 Handicap (1300m)

Beau Geste has won what on paper looked a strong 3YO Handicap. He’s done so by running a Timeform rating of 102.

That was Beau Geste’s third career start. He’s improved with each of them.

Beau Geste Picture: Racing and Sports

Paret is the other to follow out of the race. He settled back off a slow early pace and was strong late, just quite green.

The penny will no doubt drop with the question whether it be this campaign or later this season with a full racing prep under his belt.


Race 2: Auvray - Colin Stephen Quality (2400m)

Auvray was the hard fit stayer in the race and that told late. It’s netted him a Timeform rating of 105.

The St Leger at Randwick in three week’s time is next for him.

Admiral Jello, very good again with another placing.

Broadside kept fighting and gets a pass mark. He’d beaten both Auvray and Admiral Jello in the Newcastle Cup the start prior. I think most were expecting him to offer up a repeat serve. He’ll be fitter for it though fourth run from a spell.


Race 3: Don’t Give A Damn - TAB Highway Handicap (1500m)

That was a hugely impressive display by Don’t Give A Damn. He produced a Timeform figure of 88.

It was probably a relief for Danny Williams, his stable had finished second contesting the last two Highway Handicaps.

On Saturday, he struck a weak Highway Handicap and capitalised.

It was his first start over some ground and he thrived.

There is a 1600m Highway Handicap at Randwick in a fortnight. He’ll take plenty of beating there.


Race 4: Alward - Benchmark 82 Handicap (2000m)

After being beaten as an easing favourite dropping to 1800m, Alward Returned to 2000m and obviously thrived. He ran to a Timeform rating of 101.

His first Australian campaign since arriving from France has been brilliant and has now won three of his past four starts.

Him and Up ‘n’ Rolling can simply continue progressing through the grades this prep. There is a 2000m Benchmark 90 for each of them at Randwick in two week’s time. Waller looks to already have a mortgage on that race.

They’re each running figures which suggest they are well up to stakes level staying races later this season. For now though, they can potentially pick off a lot of easy prizemoney working through the grades.


Race 5: Washington Heights - Shannon Stakes (1500m)

Fantastic again. We’ve assessed it as being the best run of his career and given the effort a Timeform rating of 113.

That is one pound higher than the 112 Washington Heights ran to back in the 2014 San Domenico.

Washington Heights Picture: Racing and Sports

While there were talks of backing up in the Epsom, the stable won’t be tempted so Dalmacia in 1983 will remain the last horse to claim the Shannon Stakes-Epsom Handicap double.

The runner up Mighty Lucky is a wonderful old campaigner. He’s back as good as ever. If placed right he can definitely be winning a race for Fred Cowell on what we saw Saturday.


Race 6: Ace High - Gloaming Stakes (1800m)

Ace High was always going to thrive up to 1800m.

Both he and the runner up Sanctioned were excellent and each put a big margin on third and back.


Ace High has run to a Timeform rating of 114.

The Gloaming is the main lead up into the Spring Champion Stakes in two weeks time which is where Ace High is headed.

Ace High Picture: Racing and Sports

The Gloaming Stakes-Spring Champion Stakes double has been claimed in three of the past five years. Dundeel was the pick of them, he did it in 2012.

Complacent (2013) and Vanbrugh (2015) followed in his footsteps.

Race 7: Trapeze Artist - Golden Rose (1400m)

The Blinkers went back on and wasn’t he impressive. It’s the biggest winning margin of a Golden Rose ever. He’s reached a Timeform figure of 122.

His 4.3 length victory is now the biggest winning margin for the Golden Rose, two lengths superior to the prior largest margin shared by Court Command (2006),Exosphere (2015) and Astern (2016).


At 40-1, Trapeze Artist is also the longest priced winner of the Golden Rose, eclipsing the 20-1 quote 2003 winner In Top Swing saluted at in the inaugural running of the event.

He’s now going to be dropped back in trip. The Roman Consul Stakes in two week’s time is likely next for him. The Golden Rose - Roman Consul Stakes double has been achieved twice in the last four years. Zoustar did it in 2013 and Exosphere also claimed the double in 2015.

It was a high pressure race with all of that early speed. Champagne Cuddles was good late. Menari and Gold Standard brave.

Assimilate Picture: Racing and Sports

Assimilate caught the eye out wide late in fifth. Profiles as a Caulfield Guineas horse in three week’s time.

The Golden Rose has played host to a pair of recent Caulfield Guineas winners, the Team Snowden-trained Shooting To Win in 2014 and 2015 winner Press Statement.

Race 8: Daysee Doom - Golden Pendant (1400m)

That was a massive win by Daysee Doom, three wide no cover throughout. A Timeform rating of 109 for her.


A career best for rating for her and she’s run to 109, Dixie Blossoms carrying one extra kilo and only beaten narrowly ran to 110. It bodes well for the rest of their respective springs. The Quinton stable looks hard to beat in The Angst in two week’s time. Quinton won The Angst with Dixie Blossoms last year after she ran second the 2016 Golden Pendant.

He’s had some excellent mares these past few seasons. Peeping won the Golden Pendant in 2015 and then won the Coolmore Classic in the autumn. Daysee Doom will likely follow a similar path this season.

Sir Plush Picture: Racing and Sports

Race 9: Sir Plush - Benchmark 89 Handicap (1400m)

It was his first look at seven furlongs this prep and Sir Plush thrived. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding really ran it out strong and produced a Timeform rating of 102.

The favourite Zumbelina was good in third following her first up win. Jason Collett on Sir Plush just caught her asleep at the wheel and had too big of a margin in the straight. She’s returned well this campaign.


tags

Beau Geste Paret Auvray Admiral Jello Broadside Don’t Give A Damn Alward Up ‘n’ Rolling Washington Heights Mighty Lucky Ace High Sanctioned Dundeel Complacent Vanbrugh Zoustar Exosphere Champagne Cuddles Menari Gold Standard Assimilate Daysee Doom