Australia: Shinzo steps out a furlong in Golden Rose

Shinzo, unraced since an upset win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes in March, faces a familiar rival in his return in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening.

In the $3.32 million Golden Slipper, the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds, Shinzo closed from seventh in a field of 14 to win by slightly more than a length under jockey Ryan Moore at 15-1.

The world-renowned Moore has traveled from Europe to ride Shinzo for trainer Chris Waller in the $640,200 Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs, a furlong farther than the Golden Slipper.

Cylinder, second in the Golden Slipper as the 2-1 favorite, will be favored again in the Golden Rose on the basis of two recent wins in the Group 3 Vain Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield on Aug. 19 and the Group 2 Run to the Rose Stakes at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 9.

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The Golden Rose Stakes is the richest race in Australia this weekend and is part of a 10-race program at Rosehill Gardens that begins at 9:50 p.m. Eastern or 6:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Golden Rose drew a field of 13, including Moravia and Nadal, who were second and third in the Run to the Rose Stakes; and the filly Charm Stone, a winner of three of her last four starts since November.

Charm Stone will have her Group 1 debut in the Golden Rose Stakes. She won the Atlantic Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Moonee Valley on Sept. 9 in her second start after a layoff of nearly six months.

The field includes the Group 1 winners King Colorado and Militarize, who were beaten in their last starts. Militarize was fifth by three-quarters of a length in the Run to the Rose Stakes, while King Colorado was ninth of 16 by 2.39 lengths in the Group 1 Winx Stakes against older horses at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Aug. 19.

Alligator Blood back to Caulfield

The five-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood will be favored to win the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Caulfield Racecourse for the second consecutive year on Friday evening.

Alligator Blood is winless in four starts since the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at seven furlongs at Sandown Park in Melbourne in February. In his most recent start, Alligator Blood was second by 1 1/2 lengths to top Australian miler Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at a mile at Flemington on Sept. 16.

In the $481,500 Underwood Stakes, Alligator Blood is part of a strong field of 16 that includes Without a Fight, an Irish-bred who was 13th of 22 in the Melbourne Cup at two miles last November and could appear in the same race this year at Flemington on Nov. 7.

Without a Fight has not raced since a win in the Group 2 Q22 Stakes at Eagle Farm Racecourse in June. The $798,700 Q22 Stakes was run at 1 3/8 miles.

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