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The Rosehill Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch out of the Golden Rose Day program on September 22.
The major talking point was the impressive nature of The Autumn Sun’s Golden Rose victory who now sits atop of the 3YO Timeform Rankings Chart for the season to date.
Chris Waller’s impressive 3YO scorched home late over a trip which is generally viewed as short of his best.
It was an ominous performance considering the Redoute’s Choice colt will be better suited over the mile of the Caulfield Guineas next month.
The only horse to have claimed the Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas double was In Top Swing who claimed the inaugural 2003 running of Sydney’s Spring 3YO Sprint feature.
The Autumn Sun spearheaded a winning treble for the Chris Waller stable which was also made up of Noire and The Lord Mayor.
Promising three-year-olds seemed to be the theme of the day with Thinkin’ Big and Gem Song each impressing early in the program.
Race 1: Gem Song - Benchmark 72 3YO Handicap (1300m)
For anyone who had backed Gem Song, it was a struggle to watch for the majority of the straight. He was held up badly and would have been a tragedy beaten. He got there in the end however and ran to a Timeform rating of 105.
It sounds like Kris Lees is loosely eyeing off the Caulfield Guineas with him. Gem Song is certainly a colt with a lot of upside however he might hit it too soon though against some more proven types like say, The Autumn Sun.
The Your Song colt is backing up in the Dulcify this week though which will potentially work as a better measuring stick for where he’s at.
Royal Celebration can work right through his grades this prep based on that strong first up display.
Cristobal in third got her campaign back on track against the boys after her disappointing Furious Stakes run. She can probably return to fillies stakes level now.
Race 2: Seeblume - Class 2 Highway Handicap (1500m)
Seeblume was dropping back to country restricted grade from proper metropolitan level on Saturday.
The mare thrived second up under those conditions and ran to a Timeform rating of 83.
It was an interesting Highway Handicap. The perceived main chances except for Seeblume were all also rans.
Canberra trainers have now won three of the last four Highway Handicaps since they were allowed back in it. Having that additional pool of horses from the Nation’s Capital adds a bit more variety to them now. It’s no longer a case of Matt Dunn and Danny Williams taking it in turns.
The daughter of Sebring is a Class 3 horse now so she gets one more crack at Highway success. Apparently an 1800m Highway Handicap on October 27 is her next main goal.
Race 3: Thinkin’ Big - Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m)
Thinkin’ Big was rising from 1500m to 1800m for the first time off an eight week freshen up. In theory there is just so much wrong with that. Despite queries surrounding distance and fitness, that Waterhouse ‘Bone and Muscle’ style shines through.
In the end the High Chaparral colt put a big margin on them, 2.5 lengths and we’ve awarded his win with a Timeform rating of 110.
The Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in two weeks time is next for him. Four of the last six winners of the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) have come out and won the Spring Champion at their next starts, Dundeel and Ace High are a couple who come to mind.
Post race Gai compared him to Nothin’ Leica Dane. Considering what he did as a spring three-year-old - winning a Spring Champion, a Victoria Derby and running second in the 1995 Melbourne Cup, that is a massive endorsement.
Tarka was brave and might be able to find another length or two with a set of Blinkers.
Post race reports suggest Irukandji is quite coltish. He probably has to turn a corner soon if he is to avoid being gelded.
Race 4: Miss Admiration - Group 3 JRA Trophy (2400m)
Miss Admiration was given a patient ride by Jay Ford, settled back behind a decent tempo. Ford waited for the runs to emerge in the straight and she took them.
The daughter of Sebring produced a Timeform rating of 108. She’ll back up in the Metropolitan this Saturday. The last horse to claim the Colin Stephen/Metropolitan double was Railings in 2005.
The Mick Price mare looks a definite chance of following in his footsteps. She should be peaking fourth up & will carry just 50kg.
Rider Jay Ford is going great guns. He’s coming off a great 2017/18 season, rode a double at Randwick two weeks back and a was Group winner at Rosehill Saturday.
Shalmaneser in second recorded his second straight stakes placing. Richard Freedman has done a superb job with this horse this prep in his first prep for the stable having also won the Taree Cup three back.
Sin To Win in third was strong through the line. It’s not an easy thing to do second up over that sort of staying trip and is definitely one to watch third run from a spell in the Metrop this Saturday.
Race 5: Noire - Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m)
Noire was ridden cold by Tommy Berry and once peeling out turning for home she was powerful down the outside. The daughter of Foxwedge recorded a Timeform rating of 109.
She’s the first mare to win the race since Lotteria all the way back in 2005. Lotteria went on to win the Myer Classic that year which looks a great race for this girl as well.
Kingsguard is as honest as they come. He’s no world beater but was well placed on Saturday and rewarded connections by running second.
Youngstar was good in third. She was a shade unlucky in the straight and probably got caught on the wrong part of the track. Regardless, she was finding the line well and looks right on track for the Caulfield Cup next month via the Turnbull Stakes.
Race 6: Shumookh - Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m)
Shumookh led, got headed in the straight by Champagne Cuddles but fought back strong.
The daughter of Dream Ahead produced a Timeform rating of 109.
Her next main goal is the Myer Classic in Melbourne. She’ll get there via races like the Angst Stakes at Randwick in two weeks then the Tristarc Stakes.
The win also bodes well for the rest of Shumookh’s season. Two of the last three winners of the Golden Pendant came back in the autumn and won the Coolmore Classic, Peeping in 2015 and Daysee Doom in 2017.
Champagne Cuddles was brave and we’ll likely become accustomed to Princess Posh and Invincibella being thereabouts in these fillies and mares races for the rest of the season as well.
Race 7: The Autumn Sun - Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m)
The Autumn Sun was ridden cold behind a solid early tempo. The Redoute’s Choice colt let down strongly in the straight off of that.
He ran to a Timeform rating of 120+. It’s a rating a shade below the last few winning figures of a Golden Rose however it’s still a strong performance nonetheless.
The three who won prior to him, Exosphere, Astern and Trapeze Artist, they are moreso known as sprinters. The consensus with The Autumn Sun is he is a mile, middle distance type who just so happens to be capable of sprinting.
The Autumn Sun heads to the Caulfield Guineas next. The last horse to claim the Golden Rose/Caulfield Guineas double was In Top Swing fifteen years ago in 2003.
Unless something jumps out of the pack in this weekend's Caulfield Guineas Prelude, The Autumn Sun looks to have a substantial margin on other Caulfield Guineas-bound three-year-olds off what he produced last Saturday.
He would become the first horse to claim the JJ Atkins/Golden Rose/Caulfield Guineas treble.
Chris Waller last claimed the Caulfield Guineas when Press Statement led throughout to win the 2015 renewal.
Waller’s Golden Rose runner up Zousain showed good improvement second up. The Roman Consul Stakes in two weeks could be an ideal target for him third run from a spell. The third placegetter Graff can perhaps go there too.
Race 8: Tip Top - Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m)
He’s won his past two starts now and on Saturday produced a Timeform rating of 100.
It’s those closing well behind him late first up who hold more appeal moving forward however, Fierce Impact (2nd) and Savacool (4th).
Fierce Impact was stakes placed in the UK before he came to Australia and has a Master Timeform rating of 104.
The son of Deep Impact returned a Timeform rating of 96 on Saturday which suggests Matthew Smith has plenty to work with this prep.
Savacool also looked good despite racing well below a master figure she achieved as a three-year-old.
Race 9: The Lord Mayor - Benchmark 88 Handicap (2000m)
The Lord Mayor has now won his past two starts, each over 2000m. His latest performance returned a Timeform rating of 105.
It’s a figure still shy of his Master Timeform rating achieved when fourth in the NZ Derby (2400m) during the autumn behind Vin De Dance.
Waller has elected to back him up in the Metropolitan on Saturday where the son of Rock ‘n’ Pop will be part of an eight-pronged attack the stable have for the race.