Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) appears the horse to beat in the next month’s Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) after an emphatic victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville.
Prepared by Victorian trainer Symon Wilde, Tralee Rose has now won five of her ten starts, with a further three placings and thrashed her rivals on Saturday, having entered the race on the back of a seven length romp in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m).
The patiently handled four-year-old has emerged as one of the most promising stayers in Australasia and Wilde has made no secret that the best will be seen once the mare matures even further.
Jockey Jason Holder was swinging from Tralee Rose ($1.70 favourite) approaching the 600-metre mark and was well in control of the race upon straightening, with Holder easing his mount down over the concluding stages.
Lord Arm ($2.90) worked home gamely from his rearward position for second, ahead of last year’s Lord Reims winner Eperdument ($31).
“We thought she might be something a little bit special, especially after the Bagot,” Wilde said.
“She’s a lovely staying mare.”
Tralee Rose, who will return to her Warrnambool stables ahead of the Adelaide Cup on March 8, has also firmed into $17 for the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 10.
However, Wilde is keen to give his talented daughter of Tavistock a well-earned break before the spring as he looks to push for stakes honours again later in the year.
“We have always said that the coming spring would be her time to shine,” Wilde said.
“When we bought her she was quite cheap and we have given her some time but she has got a motor. Probably the most exciting part is where we can get with her.
Purchased by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for $50,000 out of the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Tralee Rose is the lone winner from two to race out of the stakes-placed Zabeel mare Star Of Tralee.
Third in the Listed New Zealand St Leger, Star Of Tralee is a half-sister to the triple Group One winner Serenade Rose (Stravinsky).
Star Of Tralee has a 2yo colt by Tavistock and a colt foal by Russian Revolution. She was covered by Kermadec last season.
