A clever ride from Dylan Gibbons helped King Of Roseau snap an 18-month losing streak and finally deliver on his early promise at Rosehill.
The Peter Snowden-trained gelding hadn’t won since his debut at Canberra in December 2023 but returned to the winner’s stall in Saturday’s Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1300m).
Despite two stakes placings last spring, Gibbons admitted the three-year-old may have been low on confidence.
“Confidence is everything… he probably would have lacked because he hasn’t won in so long,” Gibbons said.
“It allowed me to point and shoot. Even when he got there he had a little stargaze and then he’s gone on with it.”
King Of Roseau ($14) relished the Soft 5 going after struggling on a heavy track at Randwick, powering home to beat favourite Snack Bar ($3.10) by 1½ lengths, with Crafty Eagle ($19) third.
“I said before the race, he was probably the best class one horse going around,” Gibbons joked.