Godolphin secured its first Group 1 success under the new public training model when Beiwacht delivered a devastating performance to claim the Golden Rose in record time at Rosehill.
Trained by Chris Waller and ridden positively by Adam Hyeronimus, Beiwacht ($9) dictated from the front and silenced any queries about his stamina, powering clear to win by 4-1/4 lengths from stablemate Wodeton ($4.20). Fellow Godolphin runner Tempted ($3 fav) was another head away in third.
The colt’s winning time of 1:20.79 lowered the previous benchmark of 1:21.22 held by Cepheus, with Waller describing the achievement as a humbling moment for both himself and the Godolphin operation.
“Godolphin has been an amazing story for Australia and they’ve been my biggest competitor for so many years consistently in these big races, the stallion making races,” Waller said. “We had four great colts in the race and unfortunately there is only one winner.”
Although considered Waller’s third pick before the race, Beiwacht showed the maturity to stretch strongly to 1400m, a quality he sometimes lacked as a juvenile. Waller drew comparisons with his sire, 2019 Golden Rose winner Bivouac.
“We’ve had confidence the horse has continued to mature,” Waller said. “What struck us the most today, he was so calm and relaxed. He is a proper racehorse. He’s got good looks, he’s got proper two-year-old form and he’s backed it up at three.”
Godolphin managing director Andy Makiv confirmed their vacant Everest slot will be filled by a runner from Saturday’s Golden Rose, with Beiwacht and Tempted the prime options.
“Three weeks in is a really good lead-up for either Beiwacht or Tempted to go back to the 1200 metres,” Makiv said. “They seem to be our logical choices and really our only choices.”
James McDonald praised runner-up Wodeton for his effort. “He was very gallant in defeat, stayed on really well and his day will come,” he said. Tempted’s rider Ethan Brown echoed the sentiment, adding: “I feel like she’s probably a little bit more effective over 1200 metres with a hotter tempo but very good effort.”
The result marked Godolphin’s seventh Golden Rose triumph and delivered consecutive victories following Broadsiding’s success last year.
