Dylan Gibbons believes Under Focus can make a serious impact in Saturday’s Group Two Run To The Rose at Rosehill after securing a far more favourable barrier for the key Golden Rose lead-up.
The Kris Lees-trained colt will jump from gate five in the 1200-metre race, having been forced to overcome barrier 11 of 13 when he resumed in the Listed Rosebud. He finished sixth, three lengths behind Chilly Girl, after settling at the rear before charging home once clear.
Under Focus was rated a $6 chance with TAB on Thursday, and Gibbons expects the son of Too Darn Hot to settle much closer to the pace this time.
“He’ll be able to be a bit more competitive from that draw,” Gibbons said.
“We drew wide the other day and had to just cop our medicine. There were bigger things in store, and he didn’t need to have a gut-buster first-up.
“You would imagine from that good gate, he will be doing what he was doing last preparation and putting himself in the first couple, and that will have him in striking range to be a winning hope.”
The three-year-old previously finished third in the Group Three Kindergarten Stakes in April and will now attempt to strengthen his claims for the Yulong Golden Rose, which will be run at Rosehill on September 26.
The Run To The Rose is one of the major early-season tests for Sydney’s three-year-olds. Saturday’s Rosehill meeting is scheduled to begin at 11.50am, with the feature race forming part of a card that also includes the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes and Sheraco Stakes.
Gibbons will also partner Gangsta Granny in the Group Two Sheraco Stakes over 1200 metres. The five-year-old mare, trained by Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes, has drawn gate four after finishing sixth in the Group Two Missile Stakes when resuming.
That defeat was the first time she had failed to finish in the placings in 13 starts, with co-trainer Michael Hawkes suggesting she was undone by a slow beginning.
“Everyone’s entitled to have a bad race, but she’d never had a bad race, so it was a bit of a head scratcher,” Hawkes said.
Gibbons said a return to the trials had indicated that Gangsta Granny was ready to put the performance behind her.
“If you ignore the first-up run, you would have to think she’s a good hope,” he said.
He will also reunite with former employer Lees aboard Lord Of Biscay in the Theo Marks Stakes, while his strongest winning chance of the day may come with Appeared in a 2400-metre staying event.
Gibbons has ridden the Bjorn Baker-trained import to victories at Newcastle and Warwick Farm, although the jockey believes the horse still has more to learn.
Appeared has been fitted with winkers after previously winning in Ireland with the headgear, in an attempt to sharpen his response late in the race.
