Godolphin three-year-old Bivouac will open as the favourite ahead of next fortnight’s Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) after claiming a big win in Saturday’s Group 2 Run to the Rose leadup.
The colt by Exceed and Excel upset race-favourite Exceedance on the way to a two-length victory at Rosehill, flashing down the home straight with jockey Joshua Parr on board.
Bivouac always looked a chance after jumping well from the barriers, and as the only horse to have beaten back-to-back Group 2 winner Libertini, it was no surprise to see one of Godolphin’s prized juveniles come out on top.
Trainer James Cummings declared the blinkers off on Saturday, which looked to prove the difference following Bivouac’s runner-up to Exceedance in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes a fortnight ago on the same track.
Bivouac is the new favourite for this year’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes on September 28. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.
“It was a masterstroke for James by taking the blinkers off him” Godolphin stable rep Darren Bean said after the race.
“He probably did need those blinkers early days but he’s a lot more switched on and he knows he’s a colt now.”
Parr did a phenomenal job adjusting to the early race speed by shifting over with 400m to go. The push-button colt possesses a tremendous turn of foot, and once in the clear, Parr always knew he’d be crossing the line first.
“My goodness he’s a rocket ship isn’t he? I found my position really comfortably in what looked to be a tricky race on paper. I was confident a very long way from home” Parr said.
“Very good decision by the team at Godolphin (to remove the blinkers). He’s a very high energy horse. We know he can go fast and he’s done it today without the blinkers and he’s absolutely donkey-licked a very classy field of horses.”
Winning the Run to the Rose doesn’t always translate into a Golden Rose Stakes win, but it has helped Bivouac firm from $7.00 into $3.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Godolphin’s winning colt will now look to become the fifth horse to complete the Run to the Rose-Golden Rose Stakes double, with the most recent being Astern in 2016.
Yes Yes Yes, who ran on well for second on Saturday, remains on the second line of 2019 Golden Rose Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au behind Exceedance at $6.00.
2019 Run To The Rose Results & Finishing Order
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | BIVOUAC | James Cummings | Joshua Parr | – | 6 | 57kg | $4 |
| 2 | 2 | YES YES YES | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 2L | 4 | 57.5kg | $7 |
| 3 | 4 | EXCEEDANCE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 2.2L | 5 | 57kg | $2.40F |
| 4 | 6 | KUBRICK | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 5L | 7 | 55kg | $9 |
| 5 | 5 | DAWN AGE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 7.8L | 3 | 56kg | $7 |
| 6 | 1 | PRINCE FAWAZ | Anthony Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 8.3L | 1 | 58.5kg | $31 |
| 7 | 8 | MO’S CROWN | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 11.6L | 8 | 55kg | $71 |
| 8 | 7 | HIGHTAIL | Peter & Paul Snowden | Sam Clipperton | 12.1L | 2 | 55kg | $21 |
