A mature outlook combined with a fresh approach has enabled King Of Roseau to reach greater consistency in the last year, and handler Peter Snowden believes the speedster is primed for a profitable season ahead.
Following a second-place effort in a benchmark event at the same Gosford fixture last season, King Of Roseau has competed nine times, securing five victories including three at stakes grade, plus another runner-up finish and a pair of fourth placings.
This Saturday, he launches his new preparation in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m), with Snowden anticipating a strong performance.
“He has really jumped out of the ground in the last twelve months,” Snowden said.
“He has come of age and he’s getting consistent.
“He’s got some lofty heights ahead of him this ‘prep’, but it starts off with Saturday, then hopefully three weeks later the Kingsford-Smith (Cup) and maybe, if he’s going well enough, the Stradbroke (Handicap).”
King Of Roseau enjoyed a spell following his win in the Liverpool City Cup (1300m) back in February and has secured gate six from 13 for his comeback.
Although carrying 60kg, Snowden expects the gelding to settle handy midfield and be close enough to challenge turning for home.
“There’s a couple who go quick, but it’s not like they’re going to fly and from a middle gate, he should be able to keep a midfield spot quite comfortably,” he said.
“If he does, half the job is done. It’s better to be sitting four or five (lengths) off them than ten or twelve.”
Snowden also has Unspoken entered in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m), a horse who must lift after three lacklustre efforts, while Touristic might join the fray.
The latter thrives on soft tracks but faces a firm surface this weekend, leading Snowden to ponder a delay for a Queensland raid amid predicted wet weather.
“There’s Brisbane next week and it’s supposed to rain up there all next week, so it’s tempting to wait,” Snowden said.
“But I’ve been here before and nothing happens, so we might be better off taking this race.
“It’s nearly D-day for Unspoken. He’s been a bit frustrating and has had a few little issues and been a bit hard to manage of late. He needs to show us something on Saturday or that might be spell time for him.”
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