Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are poised to claim the first Group 1 of the Sydney Spring Carnival when El Divino lines up for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill this afternoon.
El Divino (inside) continues to firm in the hours leading up to the 2016 Golden Rose. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
That is the tale of the tape in betting markets for the feature race for three-year-old’s, where the half-brother to Winx has continued to herald plenty of interest and has firmed into an $11 quote, having opened at $15.
El Divino imm3ediately stamped himself as a colt to follow when delivering a Gosford field a six-length defeat on debut, and made a successful transition to black type company when he dead-heated the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1200m) with Golden Rose betting favourite Astern during The Championships.
Sure to have taken plenty of benefit from a first-up run for fourth in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) a fortnight ago, El Divino will leave from the ideal barrier 4 with the notable advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Yankee Rose has not been seen at the races this season, but is another runner whose 2016 Golden Rose odds have only continued to firm in the hours leading up to jump.
Purchased for only $10,000, Yankee Rose stormed home to win the Viridian Lightbridge Plate (1100m) on debut before taking out the Golden Gift (1100m) on November 21st.
Given little chance of success in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) upon resuming this year, the All American filly produced a scintillating late turn of foot to finish second behind Capitalist.
Forced back into the paddock through injury after posting a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Day 1 of The Championships, the conditions of the Golden Rose should play directly into the strengths of Yankee Rose this afternoon, particularly with only 54.5kgs in tow.
Astern and Omei Sword have dominated 2016 Golden Rose betting markets this week, but the pair have each drifted in the hours leading up to jump.
Astern won the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) and dead-heated the Kindergarten Stakes most notably in autumn, and returned this time for an impressive win in the Run To The Rose a fortnight ago.
Omei Sword has undoubtedly returned to racing in peak condition this time, and delivered a smart field a near-four length defeat in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) first-up three weeks ago.
The Team Hawkes-trained Divine Prophet ($6) is the only other runners currently available at Golden Rose odds of less than $10 with Ladbrokes Australia, but has also drifted.
