Progressive 3-year-old Whiskey ‘N Roses bounced back to winning form with a courageous effort to take out the Captain Compost Landscape Supplies (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The son of former Haunui Stud-based stallion Belardo made a red-hot start to his racing career, winning two of his first threestarts before finishing second to subsequent Group 1 winner Savaglee in the Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) in October last year.
He continued to race primarily against the best of his age group with mixed results but looked to be back to his best when finishing third in the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa in late April.
His supporters were prepared to overlook a last-start failure at Ellerslie – where he was blocked for a run at a crucial stage – and sent him out a warm $3.70 second-favourite with regular pilot Vinnie Colgan back on board.
Colgan had the Joanne Surgenor-prepared runner nicely positioned in third throughout before angling out beyond the middle of the track early in the home run. A powerful burst carried Whiskey ‘N Roses to the front, where he fought doggedly in the closing stages to hold out Lovaci and the unlucky Lux Libertas, who copped a decent bump at the 250m mark when trying to angle into the clear.
“Vinnie said he was going to stay a little wider and not to be worried as the ground is better out there. He balanced him up and the horse just kept giving so what more can you ask for.
“He is going to the paddock now and we will see how he spells, but hopefully we might be able to have a go at those early Group races next time in.”
Bred by co-owners Peter and Sherin Walker, who race him in partnership with Haunui Farm, Whiskey ‘N Roses is out of the Fully Fledged mare Fullinbloom, a daughter of multiple stakes winner Rodrigo Rose, who was twice placed at Group 1 level.
Included in his extended family are three-time Group 2 winner Showoroses and multiple Australian stakes winner Rosebrook.
His third win from just 12 starts has seen him earn $118,235 in prizemoney for his connections.
