by Jase Farmer
The John O’Shea-trained Zabrasive got the bob in a nail biting finish to win the Group I Darley Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill on Saturday.
After being headed in the straight, Zabrasive came back to edge out the Bart Cummings-trained Rock Classic who jockey Michael Rodd declared should have won the race.
“I should have won for sure,” Rodd said. “We had the winner covered but my bloke is still learning and while he knows how to chase, he lost the plot when he got to the front.
“All honours to the winner but the better horse ran second today.”
Like Rodd, winning jockey Nash Rawiller believes the best is still to come from Zabrasive who will now go towards his main aim, the Group I AJC Australian Derby at Randwick in a fortnight.
“He got lost in front in the straight and I was really concerned at the 100 metres but thankfully he picked up when it counted,” Rawiller said. “I went back to hands and heels and he surged again.
“He’s just a stayer and he’s going to make a lovely four-year-old, they might have a Cups horse, he’s a lovely horse.”
Master trainer Bart Cummings remains undecided if to push on towards the AJC Australian Derby with Rock Classic stating “I’ll work it out in the next couple of days."
Rock Classic is also still in the Group I Doncaster Handicap.
The Patinack filly, Run For Naara, worked home strongly in the straight to finish in third spot and she looks one of the main contenders for the AJC Australian Oaks in three weeks time.
Randwick Guineas winner Shoot Out didn’t finish with the same zest over 2000 metres and battled into fourth spot after over racing for much of the race.
“I’m not sure whether they will go to the Derby or the Doncaster,” Shoot Out’s jockey Stathi Katsidis said. “He still stayed but he had no dash.
“He’s pulled badly at both of his starts here so Rosehill could be a factor. I also suggested they take the pacifiers off him.”
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