The 2018 Golden Rose Stakes top fancy The Autumn Sun was completely out of luck in finishing third behind Tarka in the Group 2 $200,000 The Daily Telegraph Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill today.

Tarka, above, scores an upset win in the 2018 Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The David Payne trained Tarka ($19) made it a hat trick of wins with his narrow victory over Dealmaker ($7.50) courtesy of another first class ride from jockey James McDonald who is tipping the All Too Hard colt to be Derby contender in the furture.

“He had so much improvement and he’s really toughed it out today, he could be a real Derby horse,” McDonald said.

“He’s got so much untapped potential, he’s the ultimate professional, he’s got a really good turn of foot, but you have to ask for it.”

“I wasn’t sure if I got there, but it’s 1-0 to JMac.”

But all eyes were on the short priced $2.40 favourite The Autumn Sun who was blocked for a run for most of the way down the straight.

Kerrin McEvoy settled the Chris Waller trained The Autumn Sun just worse than midfield in the nine horse field and tried to ride for luck on the home turn and in the early stages of the straight.

McEvoy was looking everywhere for a run on the favourite but the wall of horses in front refused to open up for the Redoute’s Choice colt who is one of the top fancies for the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 22.

At one stage McEvoy was trying to force a passage which resulted in The Autumn Sun losing all of his momentum.

Clear air finally appeared about the 150m when McDonald peeled Tarka out from behind the leaders to charge to the line to record a short head victory over the favourite’s stablemate Dealmaker while The Autumn Sun regathered his momentum and finished hard to fill the minor placing.

Hugh Bowman stuck to the fence on Dealmaker and brought the Dundeel colt from last on the corner to be beaten in a tight photo finish.