By Julieanne Horsman
Steven O’Brien notched the biggest win of his career as a trainer when Rose Street won the Canberra Guineas in 2006.
This Friday, Rose Street’s seven-year-old daughter, Rose’s Song has the chance to trump that in the $150,000 Listed Wagga Gold Cup.
The mare earned her start in the 2000m feature with a dominant win in the 1800m Murrumbidgee Cup on 23rd April, overcoming barrier 13 to win by three lengths.
“I was very happy with that run,” Mr O’Brien said.
“She was caught wide and didn’t have the easiest run but she still managed to break away and finish strongly.
She has done 2000m before but it was good to see she still had some in the tank at the end.”
At $51 on TAB Fixed Odds Rose’s Song is a roughie but Mr O’Brien believes she is better than that.
“She is going into the Wagga Gold with a chance,” he said.
“The better horses get in very well-weighted but if she gets a bit of luck and runs like she did the other day she could very well be there at the finish.
“I’d love to see her jump well and save a bit of ground and she doesn’t mind running along and there should be genuine speed in the race.
“She needs to be handy where she doesn’t have to make up too much ground.”
Rose’s Song will carry 54kgs – two more than she did in the Murrumbidgee Cup – but she has won with 57kgs on her back before.
Apprentice jockey Lachlan King has retained the ride, although he cannot claim.
“He’s an in-form young jockey who rides well at a low weight,” Mr O’Brien said. “He did a great job last time so I didn’t hesitate to get him back.”
To keep Rose’s Song fresh and happy her runs have been spaced out.
Mr O’Brien says her second last run at Canberra should be disregarded because she was ridden upside down.
“Write that one off, she wasn’t meant to lead,” he said.
Mr O’Brien bred Rose’s Song himself after his mare Rose Street was retired early due to injury. She is one of only six horses in the stable and holds a special place in her trainer’s heart.
“She’s a great little horse, does everything right she’s got a little bit of character too.”
View the fields and form (including race replays) for Wagga Gold Cup Day here.