Last Saturday’s Rosebud winner Sandbar is no certainty to run in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 22.
Sandbar, above in red and white colours, scores a gutsy first up win in the Rosebud at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Sandbar raced up to the promise he showed during his two year old season with a gutsy first up win as a three year old in the Listed $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill.
Trainer Brad Widdup said that Sandbar has a lot of improvement to come after only having one lead up trial prior to the Rosebud but will make a decision later in his preparation if he is to take the step up to 1400m for the Golden Rose Stakes.
“Sandbar has only had the one gallop and one trial going into this race so it’s nice to get this win because he has so much improvement to come,’’ Widdup said.
“He’s such a very honest, little colt and I’ll see how he pulls up before deciding which way we go with him.’’
“He gave us our first stakes winner in the Lonhro Plate last season and now he has won The Rosebud.
“He has been a great horse for my stable.’’
Sandbar will make his next race track appearance in the Group 3 $150,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 25 before running in the Group 2 $200,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 8.
Part owner Damion Flower said that the stable will have a better idea after The Run To The Rose if Sandbar will step up to the 1400m of the Golden Rose or keep to the shorter sprint distances and concentrate on the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 3.
“The plan is to go to the San Domenico Stakes in two weeks and then into the Run To The Rose. I feel he is more a sprinter but we will let the horse tell us if we should aim at the Golden Rose,’’ Flower said.
Sandbar ($6.50) had to carry the equal top weight of 59kg and overcome the outside barrier in the nine horse Rosebud field, but Kerrin McEvoy was able to position the Snitzel colt just behind the leading division and was strong to the line to defeat Charge ($8) by a head with Golden Tycoon ($11) in third spot just ahead of the $3.70 favourite Plague Stone.
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