KRISTEN Buchanan says she is understandably tempted to have a crack at a $1m interstate race next week with today’s Gosford winner Smashing Rosie.
But a couple of things need to happen before it becomes a reality.
Having only her second start, Smashing Rosie (Ash Morgan) started a well-supported $4.20 second favorite in the 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m), and downed representatives of two major Sydney stables.
The Brave Smash filly handled the heavy track well enough to defeat Chris Waller’s $3.20 Declichy Boulevard and James Cummings’ Tarragon ($6.50).
“We took a punt as I really wasn’t sure how she would handle that track,” the Wyong trainer said this evening.
“I accepted with Smashing Rosie at Scone tomorrow and probably would have run her there on better ground, but she drew awkwardly.
“She is a gritty filly and it was terrific to see her break through.”
There was extra delight for Buchanan as she trained Smashing Rosie’s dam, the Sepoy mare Sepplime (who raced only five times), and in conjunction with her owners bred the Gosford winner.
“Smashing Rosie is Sepplime’s first foal, and we did enter her for the Magic Millions National yearling sale at the Gold Coast last year,” Buchanan explained.
“We put a reserve price ($60,000) on her and when she didn’t quite reach that, decided to race her ourselves and brought in some other owners.
“Smashing Rosie is a little beauty.”
Smashing Rosie will be nominated for the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1050m) at Doomben next Saturday.
“It’s a quick back-up for a young horse, and no doubt there will be plenty of two-year-olds entered,” Buchanan said.
“I’m not even sure Smashing Rosie will get a run, and in any case she will have to do really well in the interim before we make a decision.”
Smashing Rosie’s victory took her trainer to within three of a career 300 winners and, whilst it was special to win with a homebred, it could have been an even bigger day.
Buchanan’s two other Gosford runners both were runners-up; Justice Warrior ($7) in another division of the 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m), and Edge Of Reward ($5) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).
“Though beaten, they both ran so well,” she said.
“Justice Warrior (a Justify colt) definitely needs a dry track, and Edge Of Reward was very gallant under 60kg, conceding the winner Remus 5kg.”
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Fellow Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley also was successful at Gosford, scoring with lightly-raced Hydrometer ($2.60 favorite) in the Provincial Maiden Handicap, 1200m after placings at Newcastle at his first two starts.
Leading apprentice Zac Lloyd incurred a careless riding suspension arising from the Class 1/Maiden Plate, 2100m.
His term will begin on May 26 and he can resume riding on May 31.
Gosford jockey Jenny Duggan was successful in altering the dates of a suspension she incurred at Hawkesbury last Tuesday.
Duggan now will begin her suspension on May 23, and will be eligible to ride again on June 2.
Story John Curtis, May 16, 2024
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