Brilliant Bivouac adds another G1 Golden Rose to the Godolphin tally

Bivouac claimed a breakthrough G1 victory and a place among a cavalcade of Godolphin stars with a determined victory in Saturday’s G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill.

And the colt who had carved out a prominent place among the Australian stable’s vintage juvenile crop of last season has laid claim to the title of the country’s best three-year-old with a performance that combined courage and brilliance.

“I’d have to say he’s the best six-furlong three-year-old in the country and we’ve taught him to run seven furlongs,” said trainer James Cummings.

Bivouac is now one of at least three Godolphin candidates for the world’s richest turf race, the A$14 million The Everest run at Randwick next month, along with Alizee and Osborne Bulls.

Thought will also be given to the G1 Coolmore Stakes at Flemington in November, but next month’s G1 Caulfield Guineas is, for now at least, regarded as being beyond his distance range.

“He’s probably too brilliant for the Guineas, but he’ll look good in anything we run him in,” the trainer said.

The win is the sixth in the Golden Rose for Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin who have won it with Paratroopers in 2005, Forensics in 2008, Denman in 2009 and Epaulette in 2012 in the Sheikh’s maroon and white with Exosphere (2015) and Astern (2016) in the royal blue.

For Cummings, Bivouac provided a second success in a race he won in partnership with his grandfather Bart with now Darley stallion, Hallowed Crown in 2014.

Bivouac travelled comfortably outside the lead until challenged by Yes Yes Yes at the 250m.

But jockey Hugh Bowman called for an extra effort and Bivouac responded courageously, edging clear again in the final few strides.  Yes Yes Yes held on for second with Exceedance in third place.

Cummings gave praise to his team whose devotion he said had been vital to their latest G1 success.

“It was just perfection over the past six weeks how the team has worked with him,” he said.

“He’s a rare horse and an absolute pleasure to have in the stable.”

Bowman added to the acclaim, suggesting Bivouac had much more to offer.

“He’s a G1-winning colt who has plenty more to give this spring,” he said.

“The way he relaxed today and then the way he fought it out was something only a special horse can do.”

While Bivouac will be the horse to beat in the three-year-old sprints, a classics contender emerged in Subedar whose second placing to Shadow Hero in the G3 Gloaming Stakes suggested the G1 Spring Champion Stakes is within his scope.

“He didn’t have a clear run in the final stages and the winner is obviously a very good horse,” said his rider Kerrin McEvoy.