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Astern ready for career-defining race

Mike Hedge

If there is one thing that is certain about the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday it is that the winner will become one of Australia’s most valuable stallion prospects.

And if there is one colt among the 10 who will line up who has the credentials for international stud success, it is Godolphin’s outstanding young sprinter Astern.

Already Astern (John O’Shea/James McDonald) has the G1 Golden Rose among his credits.

The son of Medaglia d’Oro also has victories in the G2 Run To The Rose, the G3 Kindergarten Stakes, and the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes to recommend him, along with a physique and a pedigree that are impeccable.

“I can’t fault him, he’s settled in well and trialled very nicely since coming to Melbourne,” said trainer John O’Shea.

One of the greatest obstacles for the relatively inexperienced Spring three-year-olds in a race like the Coolmore can be the Flemington straight course over which the race is run.

But O’Shea is content that he has that covered thanks to a good barrier and the experience Astern gained in a trial at the track last week.

“I’m really bullish about him,” the trainer said.

“I think he’s drawn beautifully, there’s plenty of sped around him, he should get good cover straight away.

“He had a good look at the track last week and handled it very well.”

Astern comes to the Coolmore off a second placing in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick four weeks ago when he turned in a performance that may well have been the best of his seven-start career.

After drawing wide Astern dropped to the rear of the field and had to contend with a stiff headwind when produced for his final effort. But he ran his final 600 metres in a little more than 32 seconds to go down by a head to Russian Revolution who opposes him again on Saturday.

In the same Randwick race, Astern easily accounted for another of his Coolmore rivals, the G1 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, who finished third.

The Coolmore, however, has brought together a stronger field than the Roman Consul, with the locally-trained Extreme Choice and the recent Caulfield winner Star Turn added to the mix and making this one of the most anticipated events of the Melbourne Spring.

The field also includes Astern’s stablemate Archives (John O’Shea/Craig Williams), a Moonee Valley winner last weekend who O’Shea is also expecting to run well.

“He’s fresh and well from his win the other day and he’s shown that he can be very effective down the straight,” O’Shea said.