Astern storms to G1 glory

Godolphin’s star colt Astern has stamped himself Australia’s top three-year-old, storming to victory in the G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday, September 10.

In a display of complete dominance, Astern (John O’Shea/James McDonald) gave most of his opponents a start before rounding them up at the 200m and racing clear to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths, giving Godolphin it’s second successive win in the race.

The winner’s stablemate Impending (john O’Shea/Brenton Avdulla) added to the celebrations, taking third place.

“He showed how dominant he is,” O’Shea said.

“It was a good team effort to get him here. You’ve got no idea how much goes into this, how many people.

Astern has now won five of his six starts and the manner in which he handled the 1400m of the Golden Rose has encouraged the trainer to look to the G1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600m as a likely target.

“He looks like he’ll run it (1600m), doesn’t he,” he said.

“We’d envisage taking him to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and then look at the Guineas. I’d suggest he’d probably run a mile (1600m) at Caulfield on today’s performance.”
 
“We’ll get him home, see how he pulls up.

“It’s just nice to have a special colt.”

Winning rider James McDonald was ecstatic, declaring the wide gate that had led to pre-race concern had been more help than hindrance.

“It was pretty clean sailing. I’m glad I drew 12 out of 14 I tell you,” McDonald said.

“It was a slowly run race, but the slower they went, no matter where I was in the field, the better for this horse because there is not a horse in the land that would sprint past over 400m.

“They’ve taught this horse to settle. All the people out at Osborne Park and Crown Lodge have done a wonderful job and Impending has run third, so it’s a terrific effort.”

Astern’s win followed that a year ago of the brilliant Exosphere, while His Highness Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum also won the Golden Rose in 2012 with Epaulette who raced in his Darley colours.