Nearly all of the good colts and geldings by now pensioned sire Deep Field find their way to Hong Kong, but astute trainer Clinton McDonald was determined to keep Rosberg paying $750,000 for the colt at the Inglis Ready 2Race Sale last year and he was rewarded at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Lining up in the $175,000 Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes (1200m) on debut against more experienced rivals, Rosberg’s reputation preceded him and he was sent off as favourtie with Jamie Melham to ride.
She gave him a cosy run in transit and when angled into the clear he let down with powerful change of gear to surge past the leaders and win by half a length over a pair of Cosmic Force colts in Bacash and Stay Cosmic.
A year ago Clinton McDonald was in the winner’s circle after this race with classy colt Angel Capital, who was subsequently purchased by Yulong and then sent to Chris Waller.
That memory was revisited at The Valley in the previous race when Angel Capital won the Listed MRC Chautauqua Stakes at his first run for the new connections, but McDonald was looking to the future.
“He's (Rosberg) done a great job the horse after being a touch slow out, but he got in a good spot and the way Jamie rode him, she had to edge out at the top of the straight and I knew he'd launch late,” said McDonald.
“He's a really good colt this and I've said it all along, but it's a bit gut-wrenching to see Angel Capital (win race previous), but to have this horse is something special.
“He's a horse that, you should never compare, but he does special things that the (Weekend) Hussler used to do at home."
Rosberg was bought for $260,000 at Inglis Easter by bloodstock agent Shane McGrath from the Newgate Farm draft and was then prepped by McDonald for the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale, but the colt had impressed them so much they decided to buy him back at $750,000 and their faith has now been vindicated.
"Shane is the best in business and since coming into my life we've had great success, we're buying lovely horses,” McDonald said, who will now chart a path to the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes in November.
“This year we brought well again and we have great owners. I'm rapt for them. We paid big money for him and they're going to be rewarded in spades.”
Bred by SF Bloodstock and Blake Sandblom, Rosberg was foaled and raised at Newgate and is a full brother to stakes-placed Deep Pleasure being the second winner from stakes-winning import Sheer Pleasure (USA).
Sheer Pleasure has not had a foal since Rosberg and missed again last year.
Rosberg is the 40th stakes-winner for Deep Field, who was pensioned from stud duties in 2022.
