Run To The Rose 2016: Star Turn out to steal the show in Group 2 feature at Rosehill

PODCAST: STAR Turn can continue his winning momentum against a star-studded field of three-year-olds in the Group 2 Run To The Rose at Rosehill on Saturday.

STAR Turn, the crack chestnut colt with the physical presence to match his ability, can continue his winning momentum against a star-studded field of three-year-olds in the Group 2 $175,000 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Owner Alan Bell said Star Turn indicated he had made the necessary improvement from his juvenile season with a complete performance to win the San Domenico Stakes first-up earlier this month, settling well outside the leader, cruising to the front before accelerating clear to win with authority.

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“He did a lot wrong as a two-year-old but the signs are there now that he is prepared to listen to the jockey and come back under him,’’ Bell said.

“I’m really pleased with how he has developed and a lot of the credit has to go to the Hawkes team. John (Hawkes) and the boys have done a wonderful job with the colt.

“Not all horses are straight forward and Star Turn has been a challenge but when you have an extremely talented colt like him it is a matter of thinking through all of the aspects and getting it right, which is what John and the team have been able to do.’’

Star Turn is opposed to some very promising three-year-olds in the Run To The Rose but TAB Fixed Odds has rated the Team Hawkes colt as the $4 favourite in early betting.

One of only four Run To The Rose starters that have had the benefit of a comeback run this campaign — the remaining eight entries are first-up from a spell on a testing heavy track surface — Star Turn’s fitness and his improved race manners could provide a decisive edge.

Tommy Berry was all smiles after Star Turn’s first-up win. Picture: Simon Bullard

“We all know the formline is fluid this time of year but it will be good to see how he goes against better opposition,’’ Bell said. “There are some colts in this race that are thought over very highly, so it will be a good race.’’

Star Turn is also racing to secure a start in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 10. But Star Turn still has to prove to Team Hawkes and Bell that he has the stamina to run a strong 1400m to lock in a Golden Rose start.

Bell, who is in Europe on business and will miss Saturday’s race, said now the Rosehill track is heavy “it will be more indicative of how Star Turn will go over a trip.’’

“At this stage, his pedigree, racing style and the sectionals he can run point to him being a pure sprinter,’’ Bell said. “But you just never know until you ask them to go up in trip and that will be John’s thought process — should he go up in trip or should he stay sprinting.

“The Golden Rose is 1400m, it is not a mile (a1600m), it is still a sprint but we have to use the evidence that is in front of us and make the best decision with the most complete information.’’

Name of this Rose is quality

TRAINER James Cummings got it right when describing the quality of the Run To The Rose field at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday: “This is a Group 1 in disguise.’’

Cummings has promising Good Standing resuming in the feature race, but such is the depth of the field his colt is at generous odds of $15 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting.

“Good Standing is stronger and more mature, so I’d like to think that will transfer into his racing,’’ Cummings said. “The horse is in very good shape. (Saturday) you are going to get your best guide on him once he gets put under pressure.’’

The Run To The Rose, a Group 2 race worth $175,000, has attracted a top-class entry and Star Turn is early favourite at $4. In the past decade, four winners of the Run To The Rose have backed up to win the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) next start — Paratroopers (2005), Denman (2009), Hallowed Crown (2014) and Exosphere (2015).

The TAB’s Glenn Munsie said the winner of Saturday’s race was likely to be elevated to favouritism for the Golden Rose on September 10.

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“Divine Prophet was impressive winning the Up And Coming Stakes last week and he is the Golden Rose favourite at $6, but the Run To The Rose field has a lot more depth to it,’’ Munsie said. “There are five horses ­between $4 and $6.50, which shows the quality of the field.

“There is Star Turn, who has won the San Domenico Stakes, Impending has massive wraps, so does El Divino, Astern started one of the top picks in the Golden Slipper, and Mediterranean is very promising.

“If Star Turn comes out and wins again he will be favourite for the Golden Rose, no doubt, because that would mean he has gone back-to-back with good wins.

“Mediterranean had no luck last start while Impending, El Divino and Astern get the chance to prove themselves so the result of this race will reshape Golden Rose betting.’’