Odds-on favourite Anamoe was good late but could not run down the all-the-way 2021 Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo who capped off a brilliant day for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Rosehill Gardens.
2021 Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo could head south for the Coolmore Stud Stakes this Melbourne Cup Carnival. Photo: Steve Hart.
The stable celebrated a Group hat-trick of on Golden Rose Stakes Day with Entente (Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality), Vangelic (Group 2 Golden Pendant) and In The Congo in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) all ridden to victory by Tim Clark.
Clark handed the Waterhouse/Bott partnership their overall 12th Group 1 victory and took his own elite level tally up to 18 winners thanks to a front-running ride leading from pillar to post in the Golden Rose aboard nicely-bred Snitzel colt In The Congo.
The Group 3 San Domenico winner came off a lead-up second to the James Cummings-trained Anamoe in the Group 2 Run To The Rose, and like Ole Kirk last year, improved on that to turn the tables and take out the Group 1 over 1400m.
In The Congo was outstanding over the distance and took all the luck out of the race dominating from the front after working to fight off Remarque for the lead before picking himself up.
“We weren’t concerned about the 1400m,” co-trainer Bott told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He’s got that high cruising speed and that toughness that he’s got. He was deserving of a tough victory like this.
“Every start he’s stepped out and surprised me and continued to impress me and improve.
“We kept raising the bar for him and he kept delivering.
“He’s really put it together in a big way now.”
Once on the straight, Anamoe improved on his midfield position and was wide and chasing, wearing down the margin to just a neck as In The Congo set a new race record winning in sharp 1:21.46.
In third for Chris Waller was last start Ming Dynasty Quality winner Coastwatch who was good again rounding out the trifecta as a 25/1 outsider in the markets.
In The Congo could now be freshened-up for a trip to Melbourne on Victoria Derby Day, October 30, to contest the Group 1 $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
“In the back of our mind was to keep the Coolmore open as an option,” Bott said.
“We’ve always thought that this race has been a good form line into the Coolmore.
“We will see how he comes through that tough race today.
“Most importantly we want to do the right thing by him.”
Zoustar (2013) was the last horse to complete the Golden Rose – Coolmore Stud Stakes double during their three-year-old season.
All-in Coolmore Stud Stakes 2021 betting through Ladbrokes.com.au has In The Congo at $7 to be the next.
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