Traffic Warden leading contender for Godolphin’s Everest slot after brilliant first-up win in Group 2 Run For The Rose at Rosehill

Gun colt Traffic Warden confirmed he is Godolphin’s No.1 seed for its Everest slot after a brilliant return in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill.

Zac Lloyd guides Traffic Warden to a smart win in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Godolphin maestro James Cummings declared Traffic Warden his stable’s best chance for the $20m The TAB Everest after a brilliant return to racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

But Cummings said the immediate aim is to try and win a Group 1 race with Traffic Warden and has the $1m Golden Rose (1400m) as the target.

“Is Traffic Warden our best chance in The Everest, most likely,” Cummings said.

“I was asked the other day if Aft Cabin was our No.1 seed and I said not when Traffic Warden is in the equation.

“There is no doubt Traffic Warden is in the Everest conversation for us but get to the Golden Rose first, it’s an important race for this colt.”

Cummings also showcased his other Golden Rose hopeful, Broadsiding, at the Rosehill meeting with the dual Group 1-winning colt having a solo exhibition gallop earlier in the day.

“I brought both Traffic Warden and Broadsiding to Rosehill and neither of them ‘lost’,” Cummings said’

“They are going into the Golden Rose as last start winners so it will be exciting to see them back here in two weeks.

“Why clash them? I guess it is like the 2000 Guineas in England, you run your top three-year-olds there and then they can go their separate ways. My feeling is that is what we will do in two weeks time.”

Broadsiding is chasing a third Group 1 win in the Golden Rose at Rosehill on September 28 and the Godolphin colt is $4.50 equal favourite with Storm Boy, who was beaten into third placing behind Traffic Warden in the Run To The Rose.

The big mover in Golden Rose betting is Traffic Warden, who is into $5 after his outstanding win.

Traffic Warden was allowed to start at $8 in the Run To The Rose but unleashed a brilliant burst of acceleration to come from back in the field and run down Anode ($17) near the line to score by a short head with Storm Boy ($1.90 favourite) less than a length away third.

It's Traffic Warden with a statement win in the G2 Run To The Rose, and doesn't @ZacLloydx love it! 🌹@[e-mail]/sjqXOnjPuT

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 14, 2024

The Golden Rose is quite well situated in the spring to be a fork in the road to make that decision.

But he’d be winning a blue ribbon in the bull show, Traffic Warden and he’s won the blue ribbon in a $100 million race worth of horseflesh here.

“Traffic Warden’s a really exciting colt,” Cummings said.

“He found himself in a proper horse race here, but he’s won the blue ribbon in a race with $100m worth of horseflesh.

“There was no hiding, these are the best horses (three-year-olds) you will find in Sydney at the moment.

“Storm Boy laid the gauntlet down two weeks ago and not everything went ideal for him today.

“But Traffic Warden is starting to put it all together now and there is more improvement to come.

“He will arrive in the Golden Rose in two weeks ready to fire, that has the target and it will prove the fork in the road for his spring campaign.”

Star apprentice Zac Lloyd described the acceleration Traffic Warden showed in the Run To The Rose as a “a top-notch feeling.”

“That was incredible, to ride a colt for the team who they obviously value very highly, to get the trust in a lead-up race to the Golden Rose to get the job done, it’s a massive credit to the team and I’m very happy to get the job done,” Lloyd said.

Check out Broadsiding's gallop at Rosehill not long ago!@[e-mail]/WkEgv1p42g

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 14, 2024

“He came up underneath me really well at the 500 and said to myself we’re in business here but I looked up and Storm Boy had about five lengths on me and I thought, this is going to be tough.

“But the horse got there quick and I must say, the last 100m he was feeling the pinch so there is a lot of improvement still in the horse and I’m very excited for in two weeks.”

Storm Boy’s rider Adam Hyeronimus described the colt’s effort as “huge” after missing the start and being used up early to lead.

“We got smashed out of the gates,” Hyeronimus said.

“He got running for 100m and I thought we’d still get a spot behind the leaders without doing a power of work but then we were four deep.

“I had to let him roll forward. He’s done a courageous job to run as well as she has to do that work. It’s hard for any horse.”

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier took Storm Boy’s loss on the chin.

“This is the game we are in, you have good days and bad days and you have to get on with it,” he said.

“It didn’t go his way today, but we will go to the Golden Rose and go from here. I know I wouldn’t trade this colt, Storm Boy, for anything.”

Originally published as Traffic Warden leading contender for Godolphin’s Everest slot after brilliant first-up win in Group 2 Run For The Rose at Rosehill