The John O’Shea trained pair of Astern and Impending have the right form heading into the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday according to Godolphin’s head trainer.
Astern, above, is one of the top fancies in the Golden Rose at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Astern resumed from a spell to down the short priced favourite Star Turn in the Group 2 $175,000 MTA Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on August 27 while stablemate Impeding was doing his best work at the end of the 1200m to fill third spot.
“The right form race is the Run to the Rose and our two were the best two runs of that race,” O’Shea said.
“We are excited about our chances heading into Saturday.”
Astern is the stable’s top pick after he showed that he is the real deal with his comprehensive victory over Star Turn who won’t take his place in the Golden Rose while Impending will appreciate the step up the 1400m.
The stable is looking for back to back wins in the Golden Rose after Exosphere carried the Godolphin royal blue colours to victory in 2015.
“We’re pretty happy with them at the minute, it will be a good achievement for the team if we can pull it off two years in a row,” O’Shea said.
“It’s important for Astern to draw well. If he can get the right run in the race he will be very hard to beat.”
“Impending is a horse on an upward spiral, stepping up to 1400m will suit him and if we can ride him a peg further back he will be finishing off well. We’re looking forward to him stepping out.”
The Golden Rose is shaping up again to be worthy of Group 1 status for the three year olds with Inglis Sires’ winner Yankee Rose set to kick off her Spring Carnival campaign against the colts and gelding on Saturday.
Yankee Rose was back in trainer David Vandyke’s good books following an impressive gallop in between races at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and will head to Sydney for the Golden Rose later in the week.
Team Hawkes have also unearthed a potential topliner in Divine Prophet who created a huge impression with a last to first win in the Group 3 $125,000 Primo Smallgoods Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on August 20.
Early Golden Rose market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Omei Sword, $4 Astern, $4.40 Divine Prophet, $9 Yankee Rose, $11 Impending, Derryn, $15 El Divino, $17 Mediterranean, $21 Thronum, $31 Good Standing, Nikitas.
