Latest News

By Ray Hickson

If there’s a three-year-old race we’ve all been waiting for it’s this Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 Run To The Rose (1200m) to be conducted at Kembla Grange.

Sure it’s the dress rehearsal for the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose (1400m) in two weeks but it’s also our last chance to size up most of the major contenders as they emerge either first-up or from one of the other traditional lead ups.

History tells us if you run well in the Run To The Rose you’re a winning chance in the Group 1. Bivouac (2019), Astern (2016), Hallowed Crown (2014) and Denman (2009) have completed the double in the last decade or so.

Here’s an early look at the contenders for the 2021 edition:

Anamoe (James Cummings): Godolphin’s big gun has a lot of promise to live up to this spring after a slashing performance in the Golden Slipper followed by a domination of the Group 1 Inglis Sires’. His campaign hit a small speed bump when he missed a scheduled trial due to an elevated temperature but showed he was on track cruising into third in a 742m trial last week behind Gytrash. Win, lose or draw his performance will be heavily dissected.

Captivant (Peter & Paul Snowden): Already a Group 1 winner of the Champagne Stakes, he was something of the surprise packed from the San Domenico two weeks ago given 1100m was always going to be significantly short of what he’d be expected to be effective at. He finished a close third there running the fastest last 200m of the race (11.48). The 1200m will suit him better and if he’s in the finish again he’s a live Golden Rose chance.

Captivant (Pic: Steve Hart)

Converge (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Didn’t this colt react to being ridden off the pace in Brisbane! He was safely held by Captivant in the Champagne but when allowed to find his feet up north he was a different horse and his comprehensive Group 1 win last start proved it. After an easy first trial he stepped it up to easily win a 1000m heat a couple of weeks ago and while his best will be over 1400m and beyond you’d be disappointed if he doesn’t catch the eye.

Dash Dash Dash (Ian Finn): Just the one start under his belt and he was a $101 chance when beaten almost eight lengths by Stay Inside back in January. On the plus side he did make some ground late there so when placed in easier company he could pick off a race or two but this looks beyond him.

Flying Crazy (Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou): You don’t win on debut like this gelding did and not have a good share of ability. He had little right to win yet sprouted wings from the back to arrive in time. That was in a Kensington maiden and he’s recorded two third placings in midweek company since then. So this is a decent step up in class for him.

Giannis (Chris Waller): A lot of people have their eye on this colt for longer races down the track and it’s easy to see why. Though still a maiden he chased Converge home in the JJ Atkins in and signalled he’s in good shape with a couple of trial wins at Rosehill. Whether he’s sharp enough to win a race like this remains to be seen but whatever he does he should improve up in distance.

Gleneagles (David Payne): Enjoyed success in the late autumn with a pair of wins at Hawkesbury including the Clarendon Stakes which has been known to produce handy youngsters. Just a fair run in the Queensland Sires’ but commendable effort fresh against older horses at Kembla two weeks ago. Might be a rung below the top level but fitter and interesting to see how he measures up.

Home Affairs (Chris Waller): It can only be assumed this colt is wound right up for his first-up run given he’s had three trials since July 30 and won them all. He won a Silver Slipper with somewhat questionable depth but was very game behind Anamoe in the Todman, beaten half a length, before finishing midfield in the Golden Slipper. Talented on pacer and it wouldn’t surprise if he gives plenty of cheek.

In The Congo (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): One of the rare examples of an off-carnival/winter horse making the grade he ran right up to a luckless first-up second to Paulele in the Rosebud by turning the tables on that horse in the San Domenico two weeks ago. He was able to control the tempo in front but still run fast time so he’s a horse of quality. We can’t expect anything else other than for him to hold his form and be competitive again.

Remarque (Pic: Steve Hart).

Paulele (James Cummings): So dynamic was his first-up Rosebud win, carrying 59kg and running outstanding sectionals, he was rightly heavily backed in the San Domenico starting an odd-on favourite. He was beaten but again was very strong on the clock as he went within 0.3 lengths of In The Congo after spotting him about four lengths on the turn. So much interest in what this colt does here, a win could see him in an Everest perhaps?

Ranch Hand (Chris Waller): He’s been largely disappointing since winning on debut. Narrowly beaten by Subterranean fresh in May but finished well down the track in the major Brisbane two-year-old races. Just the one public trial and he was runner-up to Giannis and on what we’ve seen so far it would seem there are easier races for him.

Remarque (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes): Do we have a serious three-year-old colt? That question will firmly be answered this weekend. Nobody missed his first-up third behind Paulele in the San Domenico where he was badly held up for runs before charging home when the race was all over. Of course the runner-up then won the San Domenico so a case could be made that had Remarque lined up in that race he could easily have come out on top. Chance to announce himself.

Shaquero (Chris Waller): It says a lot about this colt that he could win a Breeders’ Plate on debut, win a Magic Millions and still be there on Golden Slipper day. Unfortunately he’s not a wet tracker so he wasn’t a factor in the big one and drawing wide didn’t help him either. He’s not been pressured at all in his two trials and with dry ground likely he will get his chance to perform.

Stay Inside (Richard & Michael Freedman): What do we make of the first-up effort beating just one home in the San Domenico? The clock says the Slipper winner produced the second fastest last 600m of the race so his run can’t have been that bad. Perhaps it was the track condition on the day, just because he handled a soft 7 at Randwick and Rosehill doesn’t mean Kembla is the same. Maybe that’s making excuses. No doubting he was a star at two and there should be no excuses second-up.

Uzziah (Scott Aspery): A throw at the stumps no doubt but this colt has shown some ability in easier company. Maiden winner at his second start then found one better in a Class 1 at Gosford. Also nominated for the Midway. It’s hard to make a case that he can beat the glamour three-year-olds though.

Early TAB market (as at 2.30pm Monday):
$3 Anamoe
$4.50 Converge
$6 Paulele
$7 Stay Inside
$8 Remarque
$9 Home Affairs
$13 Captivant, In The Congo
$34 Giannis, Shaquero
$51 Flying Crazy
$67 Ranch Hand, Gleneagles
$301 Dash Dash Dash, Uzziah.

All the entries, form and replays for Saturday's Kembla Grange meeting