Rosebud Reality Check

The Listed ATC The Rosebud (1100m) marks the beginning of a new season for our stakes class three year-olds and while the winner of this race is often lauded as a potential superstar, past results from this race would suggest we should not get carried away.

First run in 2011, the Rosebud has produced 10 winners and while seven of them have gone on to stand at stud, not one of them has been able to go on and win a Group I race.

Past Rosebud Winners
 

The field this year is a good one and includes one stakes-winner in Paulele, Group III placed Mazu, boom colt Remarque and stakes-placed Maotai as well as unbeaten filly Sky Command, who is race fit and drawn well, albeit trying good ground for the first time.

No doubt there will be a big fuss made of the winner on Saturday, but the place-getters may be the ones to follow.

Place-getters from Rosebuds include Ole Kirk, who was second to Anders last year before going on to win both the Group I Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas, retiring to Vinery Stud with earnings of $2.1million.

Also Godolphin’s $5million earning multiple Group I winning sprinter Trekking, who was third to Menari in 2017.

Second to Eurozone in 2013 was Dissident, who would go on to win five Group I races and was Australian Horse of the Year in 2015.

Whatever wins this race on Saturday will be all the talk on Sunday morning, but the place-getters may well tell the real story of future success.