Aurie’s Star hero books straight-track spring path
King Of Roseau (Capitalist) stamped himself as a sprinter of real potential down the Flemington straight with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Aurie’s Star Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m), prompting connections to target more black-type races at HQ this spring.
Guided by Michael Dee, who was returning to Melbourne for the first time since April, the Peter Snowden-trained gelding settled third last before Dee asked the question with 300 metres to go.
The four-year-old answered with a powerful turn of foot, launching down the outside to score a decisive 1.5-length win over Bandi’s Boy (The Brothers War), who finished a length clear of Marble Nine (Kobayashi) in third.
Splash Back (Le Havre), the $2.60 favourite, trailed $3.40 chance King Of Roseau in the run but was unable to go with the winner in the final stages and finished fifth.
King Of Roseau was continuing a rich vein of form, having stepped up for his fourth attempt at Group 3 level off the back of two handicap wins at Rosehill. Snowden said the win showed the gelding’s affinity for the straight, with his other run over it resulting in a third placing behind Growing Empire (Zoustar) and First Settler (Written Tycoon) in the Poseidon Stakes (Listed, 1100m) last September.
“He’s always shown a fair bit. We gelded him after he showed a lack of enthusiasm and that’s been a big help,” Snowden said.
“We went back to benchmark races and he earnt his stripes there. He’s showing a real grit about his races. He’s going through his grades quite well. That was a good field without being a star-studded field.
“Now we know he really likes Flemington there’s no doubt we’ll be back at some time through the year. Not every horse handles Flemington down the straight, but this horse has got a bit of an affinity for it and that was a dominant win there today.”
Dee was returning from a two-month stint in Japan, a spell which yielded five winners, followed by a European holiday. Also successful aboard Bold Soul (Embellish) in the 2530-metre handicap earlier on the card, the jockey was registering his third win in Victoria’s first Group race of the season, nine years after his maiden success aboard Sooboog (Snitzel). He also won the 2023 edition aboard It’sourtime (Time for War).
Dee predicted the Aurie’s Star would not be King Of Roseau’s last feature win.
“The way he won, there’s definitely bigger things in store,” the winning rider said. “He had one run before down the straight in a very good form race and he acquitted himself well. He won easily and gave me a lovely feel.”
Among the straight-track features King Of Roseau looks set to be fired at are the Bobbie Lewis Quality (Gr 2, 1200m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day, the Gilgai Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on Turnbull Stakes Day, and ultimately the Champions Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) in November.
Last year’s Aurie’s Star Handicap was taken out by Right To Party (Zoustar), who two starts later won the Gilgai Stakes before a close second in the Champion Sprint.
Bred by Mrs S Bissett and Mr I.C. Woodford-Smith, King Of Roseau was a $95,000 buy for Pulse Racing Thoroughbreds and Dave Mee’s Pinhook Bloodstock International from Ashleigh Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second foal and second winner out of dual winner Dominica (Choisir), who herself is out of Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) heroine Danni Martine (Danzero).
With Saturday’s breakthrough, King Of Roseau became the 25th individual stakes winner for his Newgate Farm–based sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon), who sired three other winners on the day.
Ninth on the general sires’ standings last season, he will stand at the New South Wales-based farm for a decreased fee of $44,000 (inc GST).
Group 1 goals for Zou Sensation after hat-trick success
Another gelding likely set for bigger things after netting a third consecutive win is Zou Sensation (Zoustar), whose gritty performance in the $150,000 Victorian Jockeys’ Association Trophy (1410m) at Flemington on Saturday has connections aspiring to Group 1 targets.
Prepared by Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, the six-year-old brought up the hat-trick in the Benchmark 100 event after two handicap victories at Caulfield over the last two months.
After leading for the majority of the 1410-metre trip on Saturday and over-racing through the middle stages, Zou Sensation showed tenacity in the straight to repel the late challenge of Running By (Impending) by 0.3 lengths under Jamie Melham.
Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet) ran third, just 0.4 lengths further back after threatening the winner to his inside.
Larkin confirmed post-race that the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) back at Caulfield next month was under serious consideration.
“He’s definitely a horse that is starting to put his hand up as one that could probably go to a Rupert Clarke in time,” Larkin said. “We’ll be looking at that and working out how he gets there.
“I think he’s a better horse when chasing with cover, so rising in grade and facing a stronger tempo may actually suit him better.”
Melham described the gelding as an ‘arrogant’ one, full of raw ability.
“He was always going to win. They got to him late and he pinned his ears back—he just wasn’t going to let them past,” the winning rider said. “He knows he’s good.”
Like King Of Roseau, Zou Sensation placed in the Poseidon Stakes as a three-year-old, but he has not stepped up to Group company since an unplaced effort in the Danehill Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) later that season.
He is himself out of a Group 2-placed stakes winner in Dame Claire (Danehill Dancer), and was a $150,000 purchase for owners Bennett Racing at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He now boasts a record of seven wins from 25 starts, with Saturday’s $82,500 winner’s cheque taking his earnings beyond $500,000.
Zoustar, the newly minted champion sire, will stand the upcoming breeding season at Widden Stud for an unchanged fee of $275,000 (inc GST).