Rose in search of Kensington Stakes success

Grahame Begg concedes both the barrier draw and distance are not ideal for Rose Quartz as she chases a first stakes race win.

Rose Quartz lines up in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday having finished second to Jigsaw in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on November 26.

Michael Dee again takes the ride, having ridden Rose Quartz in all-bar two of her 11 starts, netting three of the mare’s four wins.

Ideally, Begg would like Rose Quartz to be running over 1100m, but Saturday’s race is the one option that fits his plan of getting the mare to the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Sandown on Boxing Day.

“I wish she had just drawn out a bit more,” Begg said.

“I hate those inside draws up the straight at Flemington, but anyway we’ve got a good jockey on board.

“There seems to be very good speed in the race. She’s trained on well and it will top her off nicely for the Christmas Stakes at Sandown on Boxing Day.

“She goes well up the straight, and if she wins, it’s a ‘black type’ win to go on her page.”

Begg said a month between runs would be too long for Rose Quartz after her three-quarter length second at Caulfield last time out.

He said Rose Quartz was looking for 1100m at Caulfield as she was dropping back from that trip at Flemington when out of the placings in late October.

“It is different racing over 1000 metres compared to 1100 metres,” Begg said.

“Leaders seem to keep running over 1000 metres, but at the 1100 metres, the leaders seem to come back to them a bit.

“I know it’s only 100 metres, but over the years, it has been a big difference.”

Saturday’s race is the opening leg of the Summer Sprint Series which carries $1 million in prize money.

In addition to the lucrative prize money, further incentives are also on offer with the winner of the second leg, the Christmas Stakes, being exempt from the ballot for the Oakleigh Plate while the winners of the third leg, the Standish Handicap, and fourth leg, the Australia Stakes gain a ballot exemption for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March.