O’SHEA WILL NOW CHASE SIXTH GROUP ONE IN GEORGE MAIN
FIVE time Group 1 winner, RACING TO WIN, ended a year-long absence from the winner’s circle with a return to top form in the $200,000 Theo Marks Quality, 1400m, at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer John O’Shea will now set Racing to Win for the G1 George Main Stakes at Randwick in a fortnight before deciding whether the seven-year-old embarks on a Melbourne Spring campaign.
Despite the steadier of 60kg, Racing To Win, $6.50, finished strongly to score an easy win in the G2 feature from Rock Kingdom, $5 and Triple Honour, $4.20 favorite.
“He’s a great horse, everything was against him today,” O’Shea said. “I’m really emotional because he’s been a great horse to me. This preparation is the first time for two years things have been trouble-free with him.”
Winning jockey Hugh Bowman said: “He surprised me the way he let down when we got out. It was the best turn of foot he’s ever shown me. He’s a very special horse, a real gentleman. He’s basically the reason I came back early from England.”
The Chris Waller-trained Triple Honour loomed to win but could not withstand the finishing burst of Racing To Win or the runner-up, Rock Kingdom, which ran a game race first-up.
$200,000 G2 THEO MARKS QUALITY, 1400m:
RACING TO WIN, $6.50 1, Rock Kingdom, $5 2, Triple Honour, $4.20fav 3.
HOT DANISH WIN STEALS SPOTLIGHT AT ROSEHILL
THE Racing To Win return to form was somewhat overshadowed by the brilliant comeback of Hot Danish in the G3 Research Stakes.
A delighted trainer Les Bridge said: “She never got on the track, three wide all the way with 61kg. You can’t do any more than that. She’s just got an amazing will to win. It’s just incredible.”
Hot Danish, backed from $4 in early Fixed Odds markets to start $2.50, proved a shade too strong for Madame Pedrille, $2.40 favorite, which was tardy away then held up in the straight. Beaucoup, $31, ran a sound first-up third.
Hot Danish has won 11 of her 18 starts but Group 1 success has proved elusive. “She’s had five Group I runs on heavy tracks and run second twice but she can’t sprint on them,” Bridge said. “We just need it to stay dry and we might get one.”
Hot Danish will head to Melbourne for the remainder of her campaign but Bridge is not keen to start her under lights in the G1 Manikato Stakes. “I’m just not sure where we’ll kick off down there yet,” he said.
ONLY TWO FAVORITES WERE SUCCESSFUL ON THE EIGHT RACE CARD AT ROSEHILL ON SATURDAY ALTHOUGH HOT DANISH WAS PROBABLY A WORSE RESULT FOR BOOKMAKERS THAN THE FAVORITE, MADAME PEDRILLE.