D’Argento has justified a big go in the betting by flying home to win the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
The talented grey was $5.50 into $3.60 favouritism this morning and did his chances of justifying the trend no harm when jumping well and taking a position in the first half of the field as Cliff’s Edge ($8.50), Villermont ($11) and Condor ($101) traded early blows on pace.
Settling into the run beautifully, the So You Think colt was steadily worked into the race as the field turned for home, but jockey Hugh Bowman allowed plenty of time for him to balance before asking for an extra effort.
D’Argento produced a big turn of foot in the final 300m and hit the lead with 150m to travel; sustaining well to the line to beat New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance ($15) and $81 pop Tangled, who toughed it out to the line on the rail.
Bowman was thrilled with the horse’s performance and believes that he’ll be extremely difficult to beat in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) in a fortnight.
“I’ve had so much confidence in this horse for a long time and I think I cost him the Hobartville by being a little negative out of the barriers,” Bowman said.
“He had no luck in the Guineas and I always thought ten furlongs might be his best trip, but I’d be inclined to push Chris to take him to the Derby after today’s performance, he really relaxed in the run and he was strong late.
“Whatever he does this time in, he’ll be a better horse in the spring, he’s still immature.
“I’ve seen a lot of him, I trialled him and a horse called Calculated also by So You Think and I actually preferred Calculated early on, but it’s interesting with horses – you just have to work away and that’s where Chris is so good. He treats them all the same and the ones who are up to it can continuing improving and that’s what this horse has done.”
Chris Waller and Bowman completed the running double after the pair combined with Winx to win the George Ryder Stakes this afternoon and the Sydney trainer was equally thrilled with this result.
“I’m a very lucky man to be training some great horses and obviously a horse like Winx,” Waller said.
“Winx was another one like this, coming through the grades and you just don’t know where sports or racing will take you when you’ve got young horses or young people around you. It’s a pretty good feeling to be amongst.
“I had serious doubts about him getting 2000m because I’ve seen the brilliance that he’s got. You don’t usually see a brilliant sprinter/mile that he was prior to the Randwick Guineas, come out and be dominant in a Rosehill Guineas after being three-wide.
“I’ve got to reassess that because obviously he can stay. We’ll work out from a colt’s perspective where is his best value. Is it a Doncaster where he can show off that speed, or do we go down the Derby path which is such a traditional race on the Australian calendar?”
D’Argento is now the $8 second-favourite in early Australian Derby betting, while a $12 shot to win the Doncaster Mile.