The odd-on favourite Roselyn's Star was two lengths in front of a smart field of two-year-old colts after going 50 metres of the Bivouac First Yearlings Maiden Hcp (1000m) at Randwick-Kensington, and that was the closest they came to the handsome son of Shalaa (IRE).
Ridden by Nash Rawiller for John O'Shea, Roselyn's Star was under a stranglehold for most of the trip. With Rawiller afforded the luxury of looking over his shoulder for his nearest challenger at the 100m, Roselyn's Star coasted to the line to defeat the Too Darn Hot (GB) debutant Perspiration by three lengths with another son of Too Darn Hot (GB) making his first start, Hezdarnhottoo, one-and-a-half lengths back in third.
Roselyn's Star looks to have run into a good one in Gatsby's when making his debut at Canterbury. That son of Snitzel is the favourite for Saturday's Group III Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill, while third-placed Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot), was narrowly beaten by Erno's Cube in last Saturday's Group II Reisling Stakes.
John O'Shea said the Group III Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick on April 6 was the immediate target for the son of Shalaa (IRE).
"He is an exciting colt, and we thought he could do something like that," O'Shea said.
“We will take him to the Kindergarten on Derby Day and give (his lady owners) the opportunity to put nice clothes on and watch him run.
“He only had one trial before his first run. He had a hard run first-up and has come on with plenty of improvement. I look forward to bringing him back here in two or three weeks and allowing him to show how good he is.”
Roselyn’s Star was a $220,000 buy for the John O'Shea Ladies Syndicate from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A brother to the dual Randwick winner and Listed Alinghi Stakes runner-up Shalstar, Roselyn’s Star is the third winner from four to race for the Starcraft mare Dual Star.
A $50,000 Inglis online purchase for Darby Racing, Dual Star has a yearling filly by Castelvecchio, bought online by Luke Berger Racing for $8,500.
A granddaughter of the Group 1 VATC Blue Diamond Stakes winner True Jewels (Brief Truce), Dual Star missed in 2022 and was covered by Doubtland last spring.
Woodside Park Stud Shalaa (IRE) is enjoying a fantastic run with his two-year-olds. In the first two weeks of March, he has the Moonee Valley winner Sassy Jenni, the Warwick Farn winner, Southern Charm, and Italian Riviera, who impressed on debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
