August 25, 2016
The road to the first Group 1 of the Sydney Spring Carnival, the $1million De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose, continues this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens with the running of the Group 2 $175,000 MTA Run to the Rose.
The Run To The Rose honour roll includes an impressive list of three-year-old’s who have gone on to greater heights both on the track, and off the track at stud.
The sprint has become a vital winning lead-up race to the De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose with Paratroopers (2005), Denman (2009), Hallowed Crown (2014) and Exosphere (2015) all going forward to win the Group 1 feature.
This rendition has Star Turn for Hawkes Racing open as the $4.20 TAB Fixed Odds favourite in an open market.
The Star Witness colt returned to the track following a spell in good form at Rosehill Gardens on 13 August, and went on to claim a 1.3 length win in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes.
John O’Shea has entered four runners with two featuring in single figures in the market.
Impending ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) will have only his third career start when he lines up on Saturday, while Astern ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds) will be looking to increase his winning record to four wins from five starts.
However all eyes will be on Winx’s half-brother, El Divino ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds) trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Untried over the distance, the colt has recorded two wins from as many starts and has completed two barrier trials and at exhibition gallop at Royal Randwick in preparation for his spring campaign.
The Listed $100,000 Premier’s Cup will also highlight the nine-race card.
In form jockey James McDonald will partner with John O’Shea’s Allergic ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds), and will be looking for back-to-back wins after his feat in the Premier’s Cup Prelude a fortnight ago.
European import, Singing, trained by Kris Lees, will face the starter for only the second time on Australian turf.
The six-year-old has opened on the second line of betting at $4.60 TAB Fixed Odds after running a narrow second place at Canterbury Park over the 1900m distance on 23 July.
Lonhro gelding, Loophole ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds), will have his seventh start this preparation. The Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old has finished in the minor placings on four of those occasions.
Adult general admission tickets are available for $15.00 at ticketek.com.au.
Gates Open at 11.00am with the first race at 12.10pm.
Rosehill Gardens has free high-capacity WiFi across the racecourse precinct.
There is free public parking off James Ruse Drive as well as free parking in the infield from the Unwin Road entrance.
For all ticketing, hospitality, racing and general information visit www.theATC.com.au