Racing: Smart Missile ignites Boss

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New South Wales jockey Glen Boss declared Smart Missile's remarkable performance to win Saturday's Run To The Rose at Rosehill as the birth of a superstar.

The unbeaten colt, who Boss declared the best 3-year-old he has ridden and one of the best horses he has thrown a leg over, gave his high-class rivals a big start but produced an outstanding finishing burst to have connections struggling for superlatives.

Making his first race day appearance since he was scratched at the barriers in the Golden Slipper in April, Smart Missile ($1.70 fav) rounded up San Domenico Stakes winner Foxwedge ($4.60) in the final few bounds to win the 1200m feature by a neck.

Dual group one winner Helmet ($6) was another length away third in a thrilling contest. Karuta Queen ($11) set her rivals a chase and finished just over two lengths away, fourth.

"When he got sight of the bunny it was almost arrogant the way he came up to the other horse," said Boss.

"Gee he is an exciting horse, I just don't know what he ran his last split in - it was Usain Bolt."

There had been plenty of talk about Smart Missile's return leading up to the Run To The Rose and the colt stood up when it came time to deliver after being about eight lengths off the lead at the top of the straight.

Boss hooked the son of Fastnet Rock to the outside and it wasn't until inside the final 200m that he really started to charge after his rivals to claim his third win from as many starts.

-AAP