Astern and Impending the form runners in Golden Rose

Godolphin’s Australian team is primed and ready to tackle Sydney’s first G1 race of the season with a pair of colts their trainer believes have the right credentials to give the stable a repeat success.

Astern (John O’Shea/James McDonald) and Impending (John O’Shea/Brenton Avdulla) go into the G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday September 10 having held their form following outstanding lead-up efforts in the G2 Run To The Rose.

“The right form race is the Run to the Rose and our two were the best two runs of that race,” said trainer John O’Shea.

“We are excited about our chances heading into Saturday.”

Astern ran the race of his life to win the Run to the Rose with Impending a strong third and both are expected to have been improved by the runs as they head to a race won last season by their former stablemate and now Darley Stallion Exosphere.

“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,” said trainer John O’Shea.

“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.”
 
The less-experienced Impending has continued to improve and his trainer says he is likely to appreciate the step up from 1200m of his last run the 1400m of the Golden Rose.

“He 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,” O’Shea said.
 
Tessera (John O’Shea/Craig Williams), who finished behind Astern and Impending in the Run to the Rose, will be switched to Melbourne for his next outing which comes in the Listed Pin and Win Stakes over 1400m at Flemington on September 10.

“His first up run was excellent in a strong form race, he drops back in grade and gets to a more a suitable distance. We think he will be very effective at Flemington.”