Rosewood Hill is heading for a classic campaign after winning the Perth Young Membership Hcp (1600m) at Ascot.
The Yarradale Stud homebred began her career with placings over sprint trips at Northam, Bunbury and Ascot earlier this season before stepping up to a mile for the first time at Pinjarra last month. She came from the tail of the field to win running away under Jarrad Noske and franked that form with a similar rally to run down Another Maori Boy at Ascot on Saturday.
Trainer Dan Pearce prepares the filly at Lark Hill and his father Colin was on hand to welcome the winner back to scale. “I thought she wasn’t going to get past the leader but she kept grinding,” he said. “Jarrad said she feels like an Oaks filly.
“She’s a progressive type and is doing everything right. It was a tough win and she’s probably looking for a bit further.”
Rosewood Hill is by Queensland sire Rothesay (Fastnet Rock) and is bred to get over ground on her dam’s side. She is the first and only foal to race from Salisbury Street (Blevic) who won the LR Sheila Gwynne Stakes (1650m) when it was run at Belmont in 2005.
It’s early days but connections will have looked at the calendar to find the G3 WA Oaks (2400m) is scheduled for April 2. “Dan will make those plans and he’s very happy with her,” Pearce snr said. “She was a little bit weak early on and is obviously getting better with racing.”