Rosberg announces Coolmore ambitions with debut McKenzie win
Clinton McDonald’s disappointment at watching last year’s McKenzie Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winner Angel Capital (Harry Angel) claim the Chautauqua Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at The Valley on Saturday was quickly replaced by jubilation just 35 minutes later, when debutant Rosberg (Deep Field) announced himself as a colt of the future with a brilliant victory in the Listed 1200-metre feature.
Sent out the $3.40 favourite under Jamie Melham, the strapping son of Deep Field (Northern Meteor) justified his trainer’s bold decision to launch him straight into stakes company, powering through late to score by a half-length over Stay Cosmic (Cosmic Force), with a fellow son of Deep Field’s Cosmic Force, Bacash, the same margin further back in third.
Rosberg had looked a class above when demolishing his rivals in a Cranbourne trial last month, and his trainer could barely contain his excitement as he compared the colt’s raw ability to one of his family’s greatest horses, seven-time Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler (Hussonet).
“He’s a really good colt this and I’ve said it all along,” McDonald said. “It was a bit gut-wrenching to see Angel Capital win earlier, but to have this horse is something special.
“You should never compare, but he does special things that the Hussler used to do at home. The times this colt runs at home, he’s in canter mode and still clocking 10.80s. It’s special.”
McDonald was quick to stress Rosberg still has a long way to go before he can match the deeds of Weekend Hussler, who won 12 of 21 starts and more than $3 million in prize-money, but his sights are firmly set on the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on November 1.
A lead-up run in the Danehill Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) on October 4 is a likely stepping stone.
“He’s not Weekend Hussler, but what he’s got in terms of potential…you just don’t see horses like it and he pulls up like he hasn’t even done anything,” McDonald said.
Rosberg, a $260,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase out of Newgate Farm’s draft for Shane McGrath who was later secured for $750,000 by his trainer at the 2024 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, delivered his many owners $105,000 with Saturday’s win and provided McDonald with back-to-back McKenzie victories following Angel Capital’s success 12 months ago.
Melham, who filled in for her suspended husband Ben, said Rosberg’s professionalism still has plenty of upside.
“He’s a weapon. He really is,” she said. “He hated being on the rail and he was still only half of what I think this horse is. He’ll improve a lot from this, and I’m sure he’ll be ready for Ben next start.”
Bred by SF Bloodstock and Blake Sandblom Pty Ltd, Rosberg provided Newgate’s retired stallion Deep Field with his 40th individual stakes winner on Saturday.
He is the third foal and only stakes winner out of multiple US stakes winner Sheer Pleasure (Birdonthewire), who has also produced stakes-placed winner Deep Pleasure (Deep Field). Deep Field was retired from stud duties in 2023 due to fertility issues.