Mayfair draws comparisons to Group 1 winner In The Congo after determined victory at Rosehill

Promising colt Mayfair will follow the same path as In The Congo towards the Group 1 Golden Rose after his gutsy win at Rosehill Gardens.

Mayfair and James McDonald defy their rivals to win the opening race at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Mayfair moved part-owner Henry Field to mention the colt in the same sentence as former topliner In The Congo after an impressive win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Mayfair was having only his second race start and defied the persistent challenge of favourite Mawjood to win the Rosehill opener, the Precise Air Handicap (1100m).

Field, the Newgate Farm supremo, said Mayfair still has scope for considerable physical development but is showing enough talent to be given his chance in some of the major three-year-old races in the spring.

“Mayfair will have seven days off now and we will follow exactly the same type of preparation we did with In The Congo three years ago,” Field said.

Never mind the drift, Mayfair fights and breaks through at his second start for @GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott. @mcacajamez moves to 85 metro wins for the season 💥 pic.twitter.com/xjcyuFQgLh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2024

“The plan is to go to a race like the Up And Coming Stakes and then to the Golden Rose if we get there.

“He’s a big, backward type of colt who should really come on and sharpen up.

“James (McDonald) rode him well and commented after the race that Mayfair, like a lot of Fastnet Rocks, the blinkers will really help him.”

In The Congo, similar to Mayfair, only made his two-year-old debut late in the season before training on to win the 2021 Golden Rose, defeating emerging champion Anamoe.

Mayfair ($4), ridden by champion jockey James McDonald, will be given the chance to emulate In The Congo after he held of Mawjood ($2.25 favourite) to win by a half-length with Mergeila ($8.50) just over a length away third.

The superbly-bred Mayfair, a son of champion stallion Fastnet Rock, impressed McDonald with his determined win.

“He moves extremely well,” McDonald said of Mayfair.

“Obviously, the firmer ground was to his liking today.

“He got into a beautiful rhythm, he was bowling along nicely in front and out-toughed them late. It was a good effort.

“I thought he was doing just enough to win the race but I wonder whether he will be a blinker horse in time.

“But he is still learning his craft and he got there on sheer ability today. He is a nice colt.”

In The Congo says catch me if you can in the Group 1 Golden Rose!

So close for [e-mail]/F0GoXggYUf

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 25, 2021

Mayfair is the 25th individual two-year-old winner of 35 races for the Waterhouse-Bott stable this season.

Bott described Mayfair as a colt with “plenty of quality and plenty of toughness”.

“Mayfair has come on from his debut which is encouraging to see.” Bott said.

“I think getting out in trip slightly and naturally the race experience he has taken from that helped today.

“He stuck on very well first-up, just the pressure got put to him on that debut performance whereas today he was able to be in control from the outset.

“There is more upside and I think he’ll appreciate getting out a little bit further.

“He’s a relatively casual horse and I think he will just do what’s needed, so every time he is pressured, I’m sure there is a bit more there and enough of a response.

“I think we can try to mark out some nice races for him in the spring.”

Field is also the part-owner of the Waterhouse-Bott stable’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and provided an update on the outstanding filly who is back in work at Randwick ahead of the new season.

🪄 Lady of Camelot spins a magical win in the G1 TAB Golden Slipper for@GaiWaterhouse1 /Bott and @blake_shinn!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/bRVsmAwuF9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024

“At the end of the day, (majority owner) Sir Owen Glenn will decide which way she goes but the Moir Stakes (Moonee Valley) is more than likely first-up,” Field said. “If she runs well there then onto The Everest.”

Meanwhile, Bott confirmed another of the stable’s top two-year-olds Shangri La Express is showing encouraging signs with a comfortable Randwick barrier trial win last Friday as the colt is readied for a comeback to racing next month.

“Shangri La Express was great in his trial,” Bott said. “He will have another trial and he’s on target to resume in the Rosebud.

“He went out after the Golden Slipper, we made that call relatively quickly, so we allowed him to reset with enough time to come back and have an early run on the board in the new season.”

Bott also confirmed boom French import Eliyass, winner of the Lord Mayor’s Cup at his only Australian start, and dual Group 1 winner Tropical Squall will trial at Rosehill on Tuesday.

“Eliyass will need a couple of trials with the aim to have him back in the Premier’s Cup at the end of August,” Bott said.

“He is on a path to The Metropolitan. He’s a nice style of horse. He’s one of those untapped horses that has got a great racing record and is heading towards some nice handicaps.

“Tropical Squall will also trial on Tuesday and the aim, at this stage, is to try to get her to the Winx (Stakes) first-up later next month.”

Originally published as Mayfair draws comparisons to Group 1 winner In The Congo after determined victory at Rosehill