Godolphin and trainer John O’Shea enjoyed their second Golden Rose Stakes success in as many years with Astern getting the job done in devastating style in the 2016 edition of the Rosehill Gardens classic.
2016 Golden Rose winner Astern went back-to-back for John O’Shea in the Rosehill Gardens classic. Photo: Steve Hart.
Last Sydney Spring Racing Carnival the stable took out the Run To The Rose – Golden Rose Stakes double with Exosphere (2015) and 12 months on Astern went back-to-back with victories in the same two races as a three-year-old.
A nicely-bred son of Medaglia D’Oro, Astern franked the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) form once again becoming the fifth horse in as many years to win the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) off a run in that lead-up.
He jumped the firming favourite in Golden Rose betting and didn’t disappoint, scoring a runaway win with last year’s winning jockey James McDonald in the saddle who declared him a “six length better” horse than Exosphere.
“Absolute ripper!” McDonald declared post-win.
Surprisingly it was David Vandyke’s returning ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winning filly Yankee Rose taking up front running in a slowly-run Golden Rose this year in her first start as a three-year-old.
She led early from El Divino who was also away fast from the barriers, before Good Standing moved up to settle into second.
The Rosebud winner Thronum whipped up from his wide barrier 13 of 14 draw after a tardy start to track the leader, while the other Godolphin hope in the race Impending was well positioned in fourth.
The favourite Astern meanwhile was tracking mid-field, McDonald confident he was on a horse that would have the late burst to blow the field away in the closing stages.
On the turn for home Yankee Rose remained up front, while El Divino was all boxed up around the bend failing to see daylight.
Down the straight Chris Waller’s well-ed Silver Shadow Stakes winning filly Omei Sword had no luck, looking for a run after getting caught up in a vital stage and losing momentum.
It was all about Astern however who came charging hard and fast down the extreme outside at the 300m, hitting the front with 200m left to travel and putting the Golden Rose Stakes result beyond doubt.
Astern ($3.10) quickly headed off all the other Golden Rose hopefuls flying home for a comprehensive victory over a brave Omei Sword ($5), while O’Shea’s Run To The Rose third placegetter Impending ($11) finished off the trifecta behind his star stablemate for a second time.
With the Golden Rose win Astern showed off his incredible sprint and had them beaten in one stride once McDonald pushed the button.
“It was pretty clean sailing,” McDonald said.
“It was a slowly run race, but the slower they went the better.
“There’s no horse in the land that would sprint faster over 400m [than Astern].
“Bring on Winx!
“Over 400m this horse can reel off some serious sectionals.
“I love him.”
O’Shea confirmed plans to put Astern to a distance test heading towards the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 8 via a possible next start in the $175,000 Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 24 in Melbourne.
“He did the job for us,” O’Shea said.
“Very proud of both horses.
“We need to get him home now and see how he pulls up.
“I’ve envisaged taking him to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
“You’d guess he could run a mile at Caulfield the way he went today.”
Astern is sure to firm notably in all-in Caulfield Guineas 2016 betting odds at Ladbrokes.com.au making now the time to check the markets!
2016 Golden Rose Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Rosehill Race 6 – 10/09/2016
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ASTERN | John O’Shea | James McDonald | – | 12 | 56.5kg | $3.20F |
| 2 | 13 | OMEI SWORD | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 2.3L | 3 | 54.5kg | $4.40 |
| 3 | 7 | IMPENDING | John O’Shea | Brenton Avdulla | 2.5L | 2 | 56.5kg | $11 |
| 4 | 4 | DIVINE PROPHET | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 2.8L | 10 | 56.5kg | $9 |
| 5 | 3 | GOOD STANDING | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 2.9L | 6 | 56.5kg | $51 |
| 6 | 12 | YANKEE ROSE | David Vandyke | Zac Purton | 3.5L | 9 | 54.5kg | $5 |
| 7 | 2 | EL DIVINO | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Hugh Bowman | 4.9L | 4 | 56.5kg | $17 |
| 8 | 9 | MEDITERRANEAN | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 5L | 5 | 56.5kg | $21 |
| 9 | 11 | CHAMALU (NZ) | Liam Birchley | James Orman (a) | 5.5L | 1 | 56.5kg | $101 |
| 10 | 8 | DERRYN | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Tim Clark | 5.6L | 7 | 56.5kg | $18 |
| 11 | 10 | OINK | Kelly Schweida | Paul Hammersley | 6.2L | 11 | 56.5kg | $101 |
| 12 | 6 | THRONUM | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.4L | 13 | 56.5kg | $31 |
| 13 | 5 | NIKITAS | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 8L | 8 | 56.5kg | $51 |
| 14 | 14 | O’REILLY CYRUS (NZ) | Liam Birchley | Jason Collett | 9.1L | 14 | 54.5kg | $101 |
