The Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Traffic Warden lowered the colours of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair, Anode and Storm Boy in Saturday's Group II James Squire Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.
After missing the start, the odds-on favourite Storm Boy was made to work to take up the running. The son of Justify (USA) was running on empty when tackled by his stablemate Anode (I Am Invincible), who, in turn, had no answer to the fast-finishing son of Street Boss (USA) under Zac Lloyd.
Making his seasonal debut after rounding out a successful juvenile campaign with a second in the Group 1 Inglis ATC Sires' Produce Stakes, Traffic Warden defeated Anode by a short-head with Storm Boy three-quarters of a length back in third.
There was $100 million worth of horse flesh walking around the enclosure," winning trainer James Cummings said.
"Another week goes past and another big performance from a son of Street Boss.
"Traffic Warden is asserting himself now, and he is a very serious colt for the spring. Admittedly, not everything went ideal for other horses in the race, but he savaged the line. You didn't see the best of him last prep.
"I knew that Traffic Warden wouldn't come here and be intimidated because he's the equal of a bull like Storm Boy. He's a very promising colt. He's got the capability to sprint. He could stretch out to a mile if we feel like that's the right way to go.
"It’s straightforward from here, the Golden Rose in two weeks, which gives him a Group 1 opportunity. He had the AJC Sires shot to pieces and only just got rolled on that wet track
“I think he's a better horse now and he will certainly be taking some beating in the Golden Rose.
“l then have to make a decision. Do you pull him back for an Everest or do you push on to a Guineas?
“The Golden Rose is quite well situated in the spring to be a fork in the road to make that decision. But he'd be winning a blue ribbon in the bull show, Traffic Warden. And he's won the blue ribbon in a $100 million race worth of horse flesh here. And that's what it's about.
“He's going to put a bit of a spring in our step. And having had a lean run, that's a good feeling. We were nearly ready to sell some trophies. We were going that bad. So now we've got a horse rocketing into the Golden Rose. And he'll join Broadsiding there. And it should be a good opportunity for us.”
A homebred for Godolphin, Traffic Warden is the second foal and first runner for the winning Exceed And Excel mare Efficiently a daughter of the marvellous broodmare Dextrous.
A wonderful servant to Woodlands and Darley, the Group II MRC Sandown Guineas winner Dextrous (Quest For Fame) left four stakes-winners, Group 1 VRC Oaks heroine Willowy (Kermadec), Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes winner Skilled (Commands), dual Group II winner and Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep, and Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes winner Ambidexter.
Efficiently has a 2-year-old Frosted (USA) named Immerse and a yearling brother to Traffic Warden.
