Steely grey colt D’Argento revealed his class with a dominant win in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill today.
D’Argento, above, was a deserved winner of the Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Chris Waller trained D’Argento had to overcome a wide run throughout but was still able to overhaul his opposition in the straight to record a one and a quarter lengths win over the New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance ($15) over the line.
The winner’s stablemate Tangled ($81) ran on from the back in the field to grab third spot on the line but the minor placings where reversed when fourth placegetter Furore successfully protested against the runner up Vin De Dance.
The minor placings were then Tangled second, Furore ($12) third and Vin De Dance back to fourth.
Waller and winning jockey Hugh Bowman combined for back to back Group 1 wins on Golden Slipper Day after champion mare Winx won the previous race, the Group 1 $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Bowman was caught three wide on D’Argento for the entire trip and navigated a wide path on the home turn to give the So You Think colt a clear run down the middle of the Rosehill straight.
Punters who backed the grey into start the $3.80 favourite had to wait for almost the length of the straight before being confident that they would be collecting their winnings.
Waller was pleased that D’Argento was able to live up to his reputation with a Group 1 win after being out of luck last start when seventh in the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 10.
Waller will now have to decide if he keeps D’Argento against his own age in the Group 1 $2m Harrolds Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 7 or bring him back to the 1600m and take on the older horses in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on the same day.
“It was unlucky that he didn’t get a good crack at them in the Randwick Guineas. Today was a good result,” Waller said.
“He is still a very young horse, learning his way. You will see in the replay he was sought of left, right and all over the shop.”
“So to see him still win was a big effort.”
“I am not sure about the Derby. See how strong we are in the Doncaster.”
“I might like to win a Doncaster more than a Derby.”
“We have to weigh up all of our chances and see which one are the real legitimate chances. We have got some pretty good ones there.”
D’Argento is now the $4 favourite for the Australian Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au and is marked at $13 for the Doncaster Mile.
