Flemington: Late blooming Rose Quartz repaying owners’ patience

Promising mare Rose Quartz, bought for a six-figure sum two years ago, is starting to pay her way after a late start to her career.

Rose Quartz ridden by Michael Dee to victory at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

A $300,000 investment looked a worry before Rose Quartz made it to the races but the mare gave trainer Grahame Begg another reward for patience at Flemington.

Rose Quartz fetched the six-figure sum back in 2019 but she soon provided Begg with plenty of headaches.

“She’s had a few ups and downs,” Begg said.

“From the time we bought her she went over the fence in the paddock and took the front of her near fore knee out.

“She had a setback and was very highly strung.”

Mick Dee gets the double ✌️

A strong performance by Rose Quartz who continues the winning streak.@Grahame_Beggpic.twitter.com/MnsmFwl1zt

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 18, 2021

Rose Quartz’s issues meant Saturday’s Rubaroc Handicap (1200m) was only her fifth start but the four-year-old posted her third win in strong style.

Jockey Michael Dee, fresh from an earlier win on Squid Game, parked Rose Quartz ($4.20) in behind the leaders to gain cover against the headwind, before the mare dashed home to score by three-quarters of a length.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE TAB BETTING REPORT

“It’s great. We earmarked this race a few months ago and it was good she got the job done,” Begg said.

While Rose Quartz banked another $71,500 for her Flemington win, taking her stakes tally to more than $125,000, the city win also sharply boosted her broodmare value.

She is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Seradess while Rose Quartz’s speedy dam Obsidian Dragon was also stakes placed.

Rose Quartz has won three races since her debut in April. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Begg was convinced Rose Quartz could continue to return her owners’ investments of money and patience.

“They (owners) have been a great bunch of guys because they’ve been very patient with her and they’ve been patient with us, too, because they haven’t given us too much pressure,” Begg said.

“I know when you’ve paid a lot of money for them there’s always pressure.

“This time around she’s come back a different horse.

“She’s more receptive to doing things we want her to do and going about it the right way.”

As a Magic Millions graduate, Rose Quartz is eligible to race at next month’s rich Magic Millions raceday at the Gold Coast.

But Begg said a trip north was not on the cards this season.

“Maybe the next year or the year after,” Begg said.

“Hopefully she’s still on her feet but we’ll keep peppering away with her and try to get her record going north and try to get a great result for the owners.”

Roy’s ability still untapped

– Gilbert Gardiner

Lindsay Park has stakes ambitions for “untapped” Flemington winner Gentleman Roy.

The lightly-raced five-year-old gelding proved too slick in the 1400m Benchmark 70 on Saturday, putting two lengths on favourite Savannah Cloud.

Despite the powerful win, Gentleman Roy’s third from only six starts, trainer Ben Hayes will continue to raise the bar steadily.

“I think he’s got a lot of ability, this guy,” Hayes said.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in a nice stakes race at the end of the prep.

“We’ve always liked him (but) he’s just taken time to develop.

“I feel he’s untapped at the moment.”

Gentleman Roy notched a third win from six starts. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

The Listed Chester Manifold Stakes on New Year’s Day “could be an option” but Hayes would prefer to ”pick up a bit more money” through the grades before aiming at a black type race.

Winning jockey Luke Nolen franked Hayes’ opinion of the horse.

“I think he’ll race in better grades,” Nolen said.

“He’s done everything right this preparation and they’ve taken their time with him.

Savannah Cloud appeared to get every chance, sliding into contention at the top of the straight but never got close enough to the winner to threaten seriously.

FLEMINGTON TAB BETTING REPORT

RACE 1

Lavish Girl ($3.20-$3.70-$3.60) attracted good support to win the TAB Trophy (1400m). Although the Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace-trained galloper landed some decent bets, she wasn’t the most popular runner with that honour going to Honeycreeper ($3.10-$3.50). Luna Cat ($3.20-$3.40) was the second best tried in the race with Lavish Girl next best in that regard. Of the rest, Jenniferenti ($12-$7.50) was specked at the eachway odds.

BETS: Lavish Girl $3,000 @ $3.60, Honeycreeper $2,010 @ $3.50, $2,000 @ $3.50

RACE 2

Squid Game was one of the best backed runners all day anywhere across the country. Paddy Payne’s talented gelding was responsible for 65 percent of the total investment in the Lexus Holiday Plate (1200m). He was six times as popular as the next two picks in the market - Capo Strada ($3.90-$5.50-$4.40) and Murrami Express ($4.20-$6.50).

BETS: Squid Game $3,000 @ $2.15, $4,000 @ $2.10, $2,000 @ $2.10, $3,500 @ $2, $2,000 @ $2, $6,900 @ $1.95, $5,050 @ $1.95, $3,500 @ $1.95, $4,000 @ $1.9

RACE 3

Skelm led throughout to win the Schweppervescence Handicap (2600m). The Terry Kelly-trained runner hovered around the $5 mark for most of the day before jumping $4.80. Although well in the market, Skelm only held a third of the money that race favourite High Emocean ($3.10-$4) did. Of the others, Wyclif ($5-$5.50) had plenty riding on it.

BETS: Skelm $1,300 x $2,274 e/w @ $4.80/$1.75, Long Arm $2,000 @ $5, High Emocean $2,000 @ $3.90, Wyclif $3,000 @ $5.50, $2,500 @ $5.50, $1,000 @ $5.50, $1,000 @ $5

RACE 4

Favourite backers were on good terms with themselves after Rose Quartz proved too good in the Rubaroc Handicap (1200m). Opening up favourite at $4.40 on Wednesday, punters could have secured as much as $4.80 on raceday morning but consistent backing throughout the afternoon saw her jump a $4 chance. Overall, she was slightly more popular than Enigma ($5-$6) with the pair the only two runners to hold six figures with TAB. Of the rest, there was a move for Wegobam ($8-$4.80) which flashed home to run second.

BETS: Rose Quartz $5,000 @ $4, Enigma $2,000 e/w @ $6/$2.10

RACE 5

Gentleman Roy was pretty solid throughout the day heading into the Myer Giftorium Handicap (1400m). Backed from $7 into $5 at one point, he jumped a $6 chance and had admirers but nothing compared to some of the other favoured runners. Savvanah Cloud ($3.20) was easily the best supported and held nearly 33 percent of the total investment while Way To Go Paula ($4-$4.80) was carrying decent coin too.

BETS: Gentleman Roy $1,000 @ $6

RACE 6

There was a fair bit of confidence about all day for Second Slip to take out the Kennedy Handicap (1400m). Backed from $3.30-$2.40 on the day, Jamie Kah did the right thing for favourite backers by getting the Will Clarken rep over the line from a fast-finishing Blazejowski ($5) with Open Minded ($6-$9.50) winding up third. The quinella pairing easily dominated the hold on the race with 65 percent of the market on them. Tavidance ($4.80-$6) had admirers but was soft.

BETS: Second Slip $2,500 @ $2.40, $2,400 @ $2.40, $2,000 @ $2.40, Tavidance $2,500 e/w @ $6/$1.90

RACE 7

Not To Be Mist caused an upset in the Furphy Festive Season Sprint (1200m). Going from $14-$23 on the day, the Nick Ryan galloper was generally unfancied when compared to the likes of Itsourtime and Sixbysixythree. The two favourites were responsible for well over half the total investment while The Gauch (5.50) had plenty of support to but held half of what the two favs did.

BETS: The Gauch $5,000 @ $5.50, Sixbysixythree $3,210 @ $2.60

RACE 8

The late money for High ‘n’ Dry was on the mark for the running of the #lovethehorse Trophy (1600m). In the final five minutes of betting, the Matt Ellerton galloper went $3.30-$3.10 and attracted some decent bets while going around as the most popular runner. Real Sensation ($3.70-$4) and Akecheta ($8.50-$7) were the others to have been well tried and held six figures respectively through the TAB Fixed Odds hold.

BETS: High N Dry $2,500 @ $3.10, $5,000 @ $3

RACE 9

Scorched Earth was the first horse backed earlier in the week and got the job done in the G.H.Mumm Christmas Plate (1000m). TAB went up $8.50 on Wednesday and that price was pretty much taken straight away. Today, $4.40 was on the table for most of the day with the John Moloney rep jumping $4.20. Yulong Command ($2.80-$3.60) went around as the most popular galloper in terms of money held, while Miss Divine Em ($15-$5) was a notable firmer.

BETS: Scorched Earth $5,000 @ $4, Yulong Command $8,000 @ $3.60

Originally published as Flemington: Late blooming Rose Quartz repaying owners’ patience