ANNIE MAKES IT – AND “BRUISES” HER ROSEHILL RIVALS

ALL’S well that ends well!

It wasn’t a matter of Kristen Buchanan deciding which race to run Annie’s Rose in; more a matter of whether she could get her to the track at all.

The Wyong trainer had accepted with the mare for both yesterday’s Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens and Tuesday’s Provincial-Midway Championships Wild Card (1400m) at Newcastle.

But she revealed today that as late as Friday evening she wasn’t sure she could even get Annie’s Rose to the races.

“Annie’s Rose got a stone bruise a week ago, and I wasn’t too confident about her running in either race,” Buchanan said.

“It wasn’t until yesterday morning when I rode her myself, thanks to great work by our farrier, that she had recovered and was ready to go.”

Buchanan decided to head to town for the Midway Benchmark 72, and Annie’s Rose was the first of four winners for jockey Zac Lloyd.

Though unable to get closer to the inside rail, Annie’s Rose ($2.90 favorite) would not be denied and defeated Danish Prince ($11) and luckless Hawkesbury mare Audrey’s Lane ($3.20), who didn’t get into the clear until it was too late.

However, given the pre-race drama and the fact she travelled wide throughout, nothing could be taken away from Annie’s Rose, who posted the fourth win of her lightly-raced 14-start career.

Previously trained in South Australia, Annie’s Rose has now scored twice for Buchanan – and seemingly at her favorite time of the year.

She won the Wayne Harris Handicap (1280m) at the Muswellbrook Gold Cup carnival in March last year.

“A lot has happened in between the two wins,” Buchanan said.

“She had a virus and then a foot abscess, and is a very tough mare.

“I’m especially fortunate to be training her.

“She was bred by Bungan Street Thoroughbreds (Sydney based father and son), and I purchased Broadway Bouncer from them for $50,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier yearling sale in Melbourne.

“They decided to retain an interest in him (the now Kermadec five-year-old has won four races and been placed six times), and later transferred Annie’s Rose to me.

“They felt she would be better suited on tracks here with the sting out of the ground, which she got at Rosehill yesterday.

“Bungan Street Thoroughbreds have since given me some more nice young horses to train.”

Buchanan said she gave some thought to the Provincial-Midway Championships, but considered it better to take the mare through her classes.

“Annie’s Rose has pulled up great, and there are some black type races for her own sex coming up in the next couple of months,” she said.

“There’s The Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) and Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone in May to consider.”

Buchanan has been in winning form in town lately with Stylebender, and Annie’s Rose was her 335^th career winner.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 29, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS