In Another Sphere

Rosehill Gardens on Saturday stages Australia’s first major sophomore event of the season, the A$1 million G1 Golden Rose, and the event will mark a re-match between the first- and second-place finishers of the local prep, the G2 Run To The Rose S. Aug. 29. Godolphin’s Exosphere (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) was a clear-cut winner on that occasion, running down China Horse Club colorbearer Press Statement (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in the final 100 meters, and the latter will have to make a massive improvement to turn the tables. Exosphere was building on a win in the G2 Skyline S. as a juvenile, but was shelved for the remainder of that campaign after finishing last of 16 in the G1 Golden Slipper. Press Statement, meanwhile, already boasts a win at the highest level, having taken the JJ Atkins S. at Doomben in June. It is worth noting, however, that just two of the last 10 Golden Rose favorites have taken the spoils. Fillies have a similarly dismal record in the event, with just one, the Slipper winner Forensics (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), having won in the last 11 years, but that hasn’t stopped the connections of Speak Fondly (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) from taking a shot. The Gai Waterhouse trainee is two-for-two this campaign, having taken the G2 Silver Shadow S. Aug. 22 and the G2 Furious S. by almost three lengths a week ago.