Australia: Gatsby's ends rest with return in Rosebud Stakes

Gatsby’s tipped his ability when he won his debut and finished a decent fourth as the even-money favorite in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in Australia in February and March.

After the loss, trainer Chris Waller opted to rest Gatsby’s and pass on starting the colt in the country’s lucrative races for the division in March and April.

Gatsby’s was rested through the Australian winter and has his third start in the $132,300 Rosebud Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens on Friday evening.

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The Rosebud Stakes is considered a prep for more major stakes for the age group later this month and September, notably the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 28.

Gatsby’s is part of a field of eight in the Rosebud Stakes.

The colt will be ridden by James McDonald, Australia’s leading jockey by money earnings in recent years. The booking of McDonald ensures that Gatsby’s will be well-supported and maybe favored depending on the level of support for Tarpaulin.

Trained by James Cummings, Tarpaulin is on a two-race winning streak, having won handicaps at six furlongs at Warwick Farm on July 10 and at Royal Randwick Racecourse at 5 1/2 furlongs on July 27. In both wins, Tarpaulin closed from slightly off the pace.

The runner to catch may be Brave One, who won a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs in his debut at Randwick on July 6. Brave One raced just behind the early pace and won by three-quarters of a length, showing an impressive late rally.

Brave One starts from the inside post in the Rosebud Stakes, which may lead jockey Jay Ford to urge the colt forward early to secure position.

The Rosebud Stakes is part of a 10-race program that begins at 9:35 p.m. Eastern or 6:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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