Astern gets first Group 1 win in Golden Rose Stakes

Astern, an Australian-bred colt by Medaglia d’Oro, won the first Group 1 race of his career in Saturday’s $767,200 Golden Rose Stakes for 3-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse near Sydney, Australia.

Astern, the 2-1 favorite, raced well off the pace in a field of 14 before taking the lead with a furlong remaining. Ridden by James McDonald, Astern won by 2 1/4 lengths over the filly Omei Sword.

The Golden Rose Stakes, run at seven furlongs, was the fifth win in six starts for Astern, who races for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing and trainer John O’Shea. The stable also finished third with Impending, a 10-1 shot.

Astern won the Group 2 Run to the Rose Stakes at Rosehill on Aug. 27 in his first start of the 2016-17 season.

Palentino, the winner of the Australian Guineas last March, gave trainer Darren Weir a win in Saturday’s $384,000 Makybe Diva Stakes for milers at Flemington Racecourse near Melbourne, but not with the runner bettors expected from his stable.

The 8-1 Palentino finished a length in front of the Weir-trained Black Heart Bart, the even-money favorite. Palentino, ridden by Mark Zahra, was fifth behind Black Heart Bart in the Memsie Stakes on Aug. 27.

Prince of Penzance, the winner of the Melbourne Cup at two miles last November for Weir, finished sixth in a race well short of his best distance.