Godolphin galloper Haussmann will press on to the 2015 Winter Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in a fortnight after he returned to winning form in the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill Gardens in a fortnight.
Haussmann finished over the top of Two Blue to win the 2015 Civic Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Haussmman started his winter campaign with a flat performance in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone on May 16 and he finished fifth behind Mirage in the TAB Rewards Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 13, but he produced the best performance of his racing career to date to record his first victory since he took out the Schweppes Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens in December last year.
The Commands gelding went into the Civic Stakes at a lengthy quote of almost $20, but he was settled in a lovely position on the fence by jockey Christian Reith in the early stages of the race.
Two Blue took up the running and was pushed out to be almost two and a half lengths clear of the rest of the field and Dothraki looked like the winner at the top of the straight, but Haussmman stormed up the inside to score the biggest win of his racing career to date from Two Blue and See The World.
Haussman did not have a great deal of room to work with in the final stages of the race, but Reith said that the inconsistent galloper showed plenty of determination to take the run and chase down Two Blue.
“Haussmann really wanted to win today,” Reith said.
“He took the run and showed a lot of determination to win.”
Godolphin took out the Civic Stakes last year with subsequent Group 1 placegetter Generalife and Haussman is set to follow a similar path to what his stablemate did last year and step-up to 1400 metres for the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 18.
“Haussmann might be suspect beyond 1350m but he is fit and well and we will give him his chance in that race,” O’Shea said.
“It has been a great team effort to get this horse back winning again.
“He has been flying, really enjoying his work at Osborne Park.
“He’s a very happy horse.”
Two Blue produced another brave front-running effort and she will be given an opportunity to turn-the-tables on Haussman in the Winter Stakes in a fortnight’s time.
