Leading conditioner Peter Snowden highlighted King Of Roseau’s tenacity and competitive spirit after the heart-stopping finish of the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on Saturday.
“I could see the horse on his inside (Harry’s Yacht) making his run with King Of Roseau but I just felt he would find a way,” Snowden said.
“King Of Roseau is in a frame of mind where he just wants to win. He has always been a good sprinter but he’s gone to the next level this season.
“He’s won six of his last nine starts and he just keeps getting better.”
Under Kerrin McEvoy, King Of Roseau at $6 narrowly held off Harry’s Yacht ($5) in a prolonged straight fight, as Way To The Stars ($16) trailed by half a length in third after leading initially.
The $3.90 market elect Kerguelen for Godolphin failed to feature prominently and was only beaten by one at the post.
By securing this race, Snowden notched his third Takeover Target Stakes, previously won with Calanda (2018) and Emblems (2014), with the chestnut sustaining his seasonal rise.
A natural sprinter, King Of Roseau first tasted stakes success at four with the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap victory at Flemington.
His development persisted through summer with triumphs in the $2 million Magic Millions Cup and Group 3 Liverpool City Cup, leading into this first-up score.
Snowden indicated King Of Roseau’s excellent shape calls for Group 1 assignments, starting with the $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 30, then the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 13.
“I deliberately missed the Sydney autumn with King Of Roseau as he had a fair bit of travelling earlier in the season then went deep into summer winning at the Gold Coast and then back at Randwick,” Snowden said.
“So, I freshened him and decided to concentrate on the Brisbane carnival.
“He will go to the Kingsford Smith Cup next and 1300m is probably his best distance, then onto the Stradbroke Handicap.”
This campaign replicates the proven formula that propelled Think About It three years ago.
Think About It landed the Liverpool City Cup, freshened up, conquered the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford, and proceeded to the Kingsford Smith Cup-Stradbroke double.
Subsequently that year, Think About It won the Premiere Stakes before stringing together nine wins in a row, ending with The Everest.
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