Top trainer Peter Snowden commended King Of Roseau’s resolve and drive to succeed following a dramatic conclusion to the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on Saturday.
“I could see the horse on his inside (Harry’s Yacht) making his run with King Of Roseau but I just felt he would find a way,” Snowden said.
“King Of Roseau is in a frame of mind where he just wants to win. He has always been a good sprinter but he’s gone to the next level this season.
“He’s won six of his last nine starts and he just keeps getting better.”
The $6 chance King Of Roseau, with Kerrin McEvoy aboard, just got the better of Harry’s Yacht ($5) in a compelling battle down the straight, while early pacemaker Way To The Stars ($16) finished a half-length back in third.
Favourite Kerguelen from Godolphin, at $3.90, was off the pace throughout and managed to pass just one rival at the finish.
This success marked Snowden’s third victory in the Takeover Target Stakes, following triumphs with Calanda in 2018 and Emblems in 2014, as the chestnut speedster maintains his impressive campaign this term.
Though always a capable short-course runner, he hadn’t claimed stakes honours before launching his four-year-old year with success in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington.
Progress has been ongoing for King Of Roseau, who during the summer notched victories in the $2 million Magic Millions Cup and the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup prior to his strong return win here.
Snowden noted that King Of Roseau’s peak condition warrants a shot at elite company in the $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 30, followed by the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) there on June 13.
“I deliberately missed the Sydney autumn with King Of Roseau as he had a fair bit of travelling earlier in the season then went deep into summer winning at the Gold Coast and then back at Randwick,” Snowden said.
“So, I freshened him and decided to concentrate on the Brisbane carnival.
“He will go to the Kingsford Smith Cup next and 1300m is probably his best distance, then onto the Stradbroke Handicap.”
King Of Roseau is treading the identical path that worked wonders for Think About It three years back.
Think About It captured the Liverpool City Cup, had a break, then dominated the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford before going on to secure the Kingsford Smith Cup-Stradbroke Handicap double.
Later that year, Think About It came back to take the Premiere Stakes and then achieved nine straight wins culminating in The Everest.
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