Everything went to plan for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained son of Snitzel In The Congo who was brilliant leading all-the-way in another front running ride from Tim Clark to take out the 2021 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

In The Congo was impressive leading all-the-way to win the 2021 Golden Rose Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

The nicely-bred son of Snitzel continued his rise through the ranks going out as an underrated chance again fit fourth-up in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m).

Winner of the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) two back, In The Congo was last seen running a quarter-length second to Anamoe in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 11 at Kembla Grange.

It was Godolphin’s Group 1 winner and Run To The Rose champ Anamoe who jumped odds-on favourite in the Golden Rose, but the beaten top elect had to settle for second behind In The Congo who managed to turn the tables running out a strong 1400m.

“We weren’t concerned about the 1400m,” co-trainer Bott told Sky Thoroughbred Central following his 12^th Group 1 success in partnership with Sydney’s leading lady of racing Waterhouse.

“He’s got that high cruising speed and that toughness that he’s got. He was deserving of a tough victory like this.

“Every start he’s stepped out and surprised me and continued to impress me and improve.

“We kept raising the bar for him and he kept delivering.

“He’s really put it together in a big way now.”

Hoop of the day Tim Clark celebrated his 18^th Group 1 victory and a hat-trick at the meeting for the stable following victories in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality on Entente and the Group 2 Golden Pendant on Vangelic.

As he had aboard Vangelic one race earlier, Clark took In The Congo straight to the front after the colt was brilliant out the barriers.

He had to fight off the Hawkes Racing-trained Remarque for the lead, but eventually got out to a good position in front.

Anamoe meanwhile was travelling midfield with plenty of space.

Onto the straight, In The Congo ($7.50) beat off Remarque at the 300m and kicked nicely inside the final 100m to run through the line a neck ahead of the fast-finishing favourite Anamoe ($1.90) who wound up late further out on the track.

In third a further one and a half lengths back was the Chris Waller-trained Coastwatch ($26) at big odds, the last start Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality winner franking that form with an eye-catching performance on the big stage.

Bott said that should In The Congo come through his run well they could head south to target the Group 1 $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight on Derby Day, October 30.

“In the back of our mind was to keep the Coolmore open as an option,” he said.

“We’ve always thought that this race has been a good form line into the Coolmore.

“We will see how he comes through that tough race today.

“Most importantly we want to do the right thing by him.”

All-in 2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au list In The Congo at $7 and are available in full here.

2021 Golden Rose Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.