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Astern produced an outstanding turn of foot to claim victory in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Settling off midfield, Astern was able to make significant ground in the straight with sectionals showing he put the race away between the 400m-200m which he completed in a very brisk 10.87.

Astern returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 126p, the highest rated winner of the race since it became a Group 1 in 2009, having run to 122+ when winning the Run To The Rose.

The Godolphin runner became the third horse in as many years to complete the Run To The Rose – Golden Rose double joining Exosphere in 2015 (125p) and Hallowed Crown in 2014 (119), with Denman also achieving the feat in 2009 (124p).

The Racing and Sports field strength value (RSFS) of 120.7 is only slightly above the 2015 renewal which saw Exosphere, also winning by two and a quarter lengths beat Speak Fondly and Sebring Sun.

Astern is likely to take a different path to Exosphere and will now head towards the Caulfield Guineas Prelude before taking his place in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas later this spring.

No horse has won the Golden Rose – Caulfield Guineas double since the Golden Rose became a Group 1 with In Top Swing the only horse to complete the double in 2003 when the Golden Rose was a Group 2.

Since 2009, three winners of the Caulfield Guineas have come out of the Golden being Press Statement (2015), Shooting To Win (2014) and Helmet (2011).

Omei Sword lost very few admirers, running on well for second and she will be very hard to beat when she goes back to fillies races.

The Chris Waller-trained runner returned a Timeform figure of 115, exactly the same as her dominant Silver Shadow win the start prior to stamp herself as the leading three-year-old filly of the season.

Omei Sword mirrors what Speak Fondly did last year, winning the Silver Shadow before running second in the Golden Rose where she returned a Timeform figure of 113.

Speak Fondly went on to the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) the following start which is the same progression Omei Sword will take in the coming weeks.

Omei Sword gives the impression the step up in trip will suit and unless the Tea Rose at Randwick on Saturday produces an outstanding winner, Omei Sword will go into the Flight very hard to beat off the 115 Timeform figure.

Impending finished off well for third and ran to a new peak Timeform figure of 118, some 12 pounds higher than his third in the Run To The Rose.

Certainly looks an improving type going forward this spring and is likely to line up in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) next start.

Both Divine Prophet and Good Standing who were just out of the placings ran to new career peak figures of 117, with Divine Prophet coming from second last on the turn.

Mackintosh returned in very good order for Chris Waller when claiming victory in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) over Counterattack in second with Southern Legend third.

Returning a new career peak Timeform figure of 112, Mackintosh is the equal lowest rated winner of the race in the last 25 years along with Master Of Design (2011), with 2015 winner Winx running to 118+.

Mackintosh is likely to head towards the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 1 and will need to show good improvement off this effort to be competitive in that race.

Only two horses in the last 25 years have won the Theo Marks – Epsom double being Winx in 2015 and Racing To Win in 2006 with Shogun Lodge doing the double across two years in 2000/2001.

Of the beaten brigade, Counterattack returned well in second running to 116, three pounds below his previous peak with Southern Legend in third running to 110, one pound below his first up win.

McCreery one of the more interesting winners of the day has finally started to find his best form with a win in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes.

Appreciating the step up in trip, McCreery ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 110, eight pounds above his Rowly Mile win the start prior.

Chris Waller has certainly taken his time with the now four-year-old gelding and with potentially more improvement to come is one to keep an eye on going towards The Metropolitan or Epsom.

McCreery returned a figure two pounds below 2015 winner Silverball, also trained by Chris Waller and is the equal lowest rated winner of the race since Lamasery in 2011 with Prince Cheri in 2013 also running to 110.

Sir John Hawkwood produced his usual solid effort when runner up, returning a figure of 115, one pound below his previous best with Allergic well back in third running to 105.