History Proves Beaten Rose Runners Can Bloom At Group 1 Level

The Age

Friday March 14, 2008

John Schell

CHANCES are there still will be major rewards in the future for those horses unlucky enough to be beaten in tomorrow's 1400-metre Golden Rose at Rosehill.

From only four runnings of the Golden Rose, a follow-on event from the Golden Slipper and normally contested in the spring, no fewer than 13 group 1 winners have emerged.

This year's Golden Rose, a group 2 for three-year-olds, has been shifted to the autumn as a ramification of last year's equine influenza.

Sydney Turf Club racing manager John Nicholson is delighted at the strength of this Golden Rose field, particularly with last season's Golden Slipper winner Forensics trying to become the first horse to complete the two- and three-year-old feature-race double.

Nicholson said the inaugural running of the Golden Rose in 2003 proved integral in the making of the race, with winner In Top Swing going on to win the Caulfield Guineas and sixth placegetter Niello becoming a three-time group 1 winner.

The second running of the Golden Rose in 2004 was won by the Helen Page-trained Doonan, which hasn't gone on to any heights, but looking through the finishing positions, it is easy to agree with Nicholson that the race is not only worth winning but is also a stepping stone to the future. "Savabeel ran fifth to Doonan and went on to win the Spring Champion Stakes and then a Cox Plate," he said. "And Econsul finished fourth and he went on to win the Caulfield Guineas. We also had Al Maher run second in the race and he won the Australian Guineas the next autumn."

Paratroopers won the 2005 event over Racing To Win, Pendragon and God's Own. Paratroopers has since won in group 1 grade with a victory in the All Aged Stakes, while Pendragon was placed in the Spring Champion Stakes.

Racing To Win has been a weight-for-age star in Sydney ever since with feature wins in races including the Doncaster and Epsom handicaps and the George Ryder Stakes.

"God's Own won the Caulfield Guineas as well and actually ran down Paratroopers in that race," Nicholson pointed out.

In 2006, the Golden Rose was made a group 3 race and winner Court Command went on to be placed in the Caulfield Guineas. But subsequent group 1 winners to have followed him home are Mentality, Gold Edition, Empire's Choice, Universal Queen and He's No Pie Eater.

© 2008 The Age

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