RHILL MAR 20 - MILITARY ROSE SENDS FINAL WARNING

By Graham Potter | Sunday, March 21, 2010

Rosehill, 20 March 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True.
Riesling Stakes (Group 2 - 2yo Fillies - Set Weights).
Time: 1-11.72 (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Military Rose; 2 Obsequious; 3 Solar Charged.

The unbeaten Military Rose came through her fifth start with another imperious win when she landed the Group 2 Riesling Stakes at Rosehill in a manner befitting a top Golden Slipper prospect.

It was the General Nediym filly’s first start since lining her opposition in the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.

Queenslanders had never doubted the inherent ability of the Gold Coast based two-year-old and trainer Gillian Heinrich had wisely merely pointed to Military Rose’s record when faced with the views of those (mostly interstate) who doubted that the Magic Millions win was worthy of a place at the top of the Golden Slipper betting boards ... and there were those prepared to pot the Millions winner.

That number has dwindled following Military Rose’s clinical execution of a field that included the previously unbeaten Solar Charged who had won her only two starts prior to Saturday’s outing by a combined total of 9.50 lengths.

Of course Military Rose has not won the Slipper yet, and she could well get beaten there in the most intense two-year-old race of the season, but, for now, she has silenced her critics and she will now go into the big race having earned absolute respect at a national level.

The two unbeaten runners Military Rose and Solar Charged landed in the lead. Jockey Hugh Bowman wanted to dictate the speed though and he pushed Solar Charged forward while jockey Michael Rodd was prepared to take the sit and give Military Rose the run of the race.

Obsequious slipped along the rail to keep Military Rose company and then edged into second place, saving ground approaching the turn. As Bowman shifted Solar Charged away from the rail on straightening, Obsequious continued to improve her position and she moved up to dispute the lead with Solar Charged.

Rodd, meanwhile, had shifted Military Rose out three wide, a little over a length off the lead, poised to strike.

Heinrich, when looking for a jockey for Military Rose to replace the suspended Stathi Katsidis for this ride, had said she wants a ‘kind rider’. In Michael Rodd she had found just that.

Rodd never rushed his mount. He gave her more rein and allowed her to quicken in her own time. With Obsequious still annoying Solar Charged, Rodd eased Military Rose up to that duo at the 300m mark.

Obsequious kept fighting and Bowman got busier in the saddle as he urged Solar Charged to do better, but neither runner could match the finish of the Queensland filly. Military Rose was in front with 280m left to run where, again, Rodd was kind to her.

While Obsequious, who would eventually get second place, and Solar Charged were hard-ridden, Rodd gave Military Rose a couple of reminders and then merely pushed out the filly to a facile victory ... her authority being aptly summed up by the decisive 2.80 lengths winning margin.

The $155000 purchase has now earned just over $1.5 million since winning on debut, just five months ago. The Slipper looks like it could be a good fit.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gillian Heinrich: “It was really good. We always did think she was good, but we’re here in the big smoke today so to match up against these sort of horses was just fantastic.

“I think there is improvement to come ... there has to be ... just natural improvement.

“She is pretty versatile. She’s done that in a few runs. She can chop and change. She can lead. He can get back. She can just camp off the speed. When you’ve got a filly like that it gives you options in big races.

“The move (from the Gold Coast to Sydney) really didn’t worry her. The day she got off the float she was straight into her feed bin and she ate everything. She’s just behaving like she is just back at home. It’s all been good for her.

“It will be good if we win in two weeks time, but I don’t think anything will ever beat the feeling on Magic Millions day.”

Jockey Michael Rodd: “It’s bad luck for Stathi (Katsidis), but I glad I got the ride so I could just have a feel of her. That was just unbelievable.

“She is such a professional. She began really well. She travelled fantastic outside the leader there. They started moving up coming to the turn. A little bit of pressure went on.

“I just gave her a bit of a squeeze and she came up into the bridle. She came up to them sort of going two to their one sort of thing. It was incredible I tell you. She’s pulled up ... she wouldn’t blow a candle out.

“She is definitely the horse to beat in the Slipper. As you saw what she did in the Magic Millions and what she did here today and she is only going to improve. it’s very worrying if you are on anything else."

Jockey-in-waiting Stathi Katsidis: “It was just absolutely awesome. She was only about eighty-percent right on the day. She’s got a lot of improvement in her.

“The way Mick (Michael Rodd) rode her ... he looked after her for us and, you know, look out in a couple of week’s time.

“I was a little bit worried in the run. Solar Charged sort of got over nice and easy and slowed them up. It looked like we might get posted three wide for a while, but it ended up Michael got her in a nice position.

“On the corner I thought, geez she’s going well. She’s got there on her own. She probably peaked on her run at the 200, so look out next time when she’s a little bit fitter.

“Yeah, I was very disappointed I couldn’t ride her today. It’s heaps more nervous watching them than riding them. I’ll be glad to be on her back next time.”

PRICES:
Military Rose (3.40); Obsequious (31.00); Solar Charged (2.00 favourite).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Psychologist began very awkwardly and shifted out, taking Triple Crown out onto Solar Charged, resulting in all three horses becoming unbalanced.

Passing the 900m, when Solar Charged was steadied after crossing to a position one off the fence, Military Rose ran out when being steadied off the heels of that runner.

When questioned, B Shinn, rider of Psychologist, stated that, after jumping awkwardly, the filly did not show sufficient speed to take up a forward position, whereby he elected to settle at the rear of the field.

He added Psychologist nevertheless was disappointing in its failure to run on. A post race veterinary examination of Psychologist revealed the filly to be displaying a poor post race recovery and mild heat stress. A post race veterinary examination of Solar Charged did not reveal any abnormalities.

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