The $200,000 Listed ATC The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill this Saturday marks the beginning of a new season of stakes racing for our three year-olds and while no winner of this race has ever gone on to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) for which it is an obvious lead up race there have been some nice winners so let’s take a look at the colt contenders.
Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) has top weight of 60kg, which is plenty for a horse that hasn’t won a stakes race and hasn’t won since the Golden Gift, albeit he was competitive in the colts Golden Slipper lead ups before failing in the Slipper. Two trials have been OK, but he has an entry for the Cox Plate which makes you wonder if they think he’s going to be looking for longer races this prep
The only stakes-winner in the race is High Octane (Deep Field), who won the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview on debut and then failed to place in the Blue Diamond Prelude and Blue Diamond. Two trials he been good, but he’s going to have to step up quickly this preparation or he’ll find himself gelded and on his way to Hong Kong.
The real key players looking at the market are race fit Godolphin runner Tarpaulin (Harry Angel (IRE) and the much admired Gatsby’s (Snitzel), whose two trials back have been very good.
Gatsby’s has had a boom on him for quite a while and won a very strong maiden in testing conditions at Canterbury back in February and was then a disappointing fourth in the Group III ATC Pago Pago won by Dublin Down. Looks bigger and stronger this time around and will be looking to make a statement.
Tarpaulin scratched from the Group III MRC Vain Stakes, which looks a very weak race, so there must be confidence in this guy to be going the harder option. His dam Shelters has already produced three stakes-winners in Aft Cabin, Multaja and Veranillo and he could easily be number four on Saturday.
Astapor (Tassort) has come down from Queensland with three wins from six starts, but is that form good enough?
Two interesting recent debut maiden winners Clear Proof (Justify (USA) and Brave One (Exceedance) add some real interest and while the former is probably going to be looking for further, the latter might be ready to run the race of his life.
Only two fillies have won this race since it was introduced in 2011 and they are She’s a Fox, who never won another stakes race and last year’s winner Tiz Invincible, who was outstanding and then dominated the Princess Series.
One filly this year in Winning Proposal (Shalaa (IRE), who is race fit and ready to go after a good last start third to Brave One, so if you like him, don’t discount her.
