Menari Blitz in The Run To The Rose

The Snitzel juggernaut rolls on with strapping colt Menari ensuring his favouritism for the $1 million Golden Rose with a bloodless win in Saturday's $200,000 Group II The Run To The Rose at Rosehill Gardens.

Completing a Group II treble for Josh Parr, the Gerald Ryan-trained colt sat outside of the pacesetting Perast before taking control at the three hundred metres.

He safely held the challenge of Pariah by one and a half lengths with Perast hanging on for third.  (photos Steve Hart). 

Ryan said the 3yo colt was up with the best he has trained.

"I was lucky enough to have a horse like Snitzel who I thought was a very good horse, then I had Snitzerland, then along came Rubick, who you never saw the best of, but this horse, what he showed us in the autumn before he raced I thought this is a fair dinkum genuine horse," Ryan said

"The way he worked last Friday morning, I reckon there's only been two other horses I've clocked sectionals as quick as him and that's been Chautauqua and All Too Hard when they were flying. He burnt the track last Friday."

Parr had guided Menari's stablemate Deploy to victory in the Group II Theo Marks Stakes and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Gold Standard to victory in the Group II Stan Fox Stakes.

"I've known for some time now how good this horse is but you've got to keep a lid on things because you know what horse racing is like, anything can happen, but it's an absolute delight to sit on his back that's for sure," Parr said.

 Winner of the Listed Rosebud Quality on his seasonal debut, Menari advances his record to three wins and a second in seven starts with earnings of $520,550.

After falling sick on the eve of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale,  Menari was retained  to race by his breeder, Corumbene Stud's George Altomonte.

He is the fifth foal of the General Nediym mare Isurava who had three wins and two places in seven starts highlighted by a win in the Listed Tatt's QLD Australia Post Stakes.

Isurava is a sister to Group II Magic Night Stakes winner Ichinhara and Listed Gold Stocking winner Au Chocolat out of a winning three-quarter sister to Group I One Thousand Guineas winner Whisked the dam of the champion Tie The Knot.

Isurava has a 2yo filly by Snitzel named Sweet Ava. After missing to Hinchinbrook in 2015 she was covered by Not A Single Doubt last spring.