Last year’s Golden Rose runner-up Squamosa showed they had lost none of their shine after a lengthy spell, the Not A Single Doubt colt storming home for a classy victory in the $100,000 Listed June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Gai Waterhouse was in England on Saturday but her Golden Rose runner-up Squamosa won the June Stakes
One of 2010’s most promising two-year-olds, Squamosa’s most recent start was back in August last year when they finished a devastatingly close to Toorak Toff in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
In a brilliant display on Saturday, however, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Squamosa easily accounted for the seven rivals they faced in the June Stakes to score their fourth career victory from just five starts.
The Randwick win gave Waterhouse state-to-state success after her progressive stayer Tullamore beat home favourite Glass Harmonium in the $300,000 Group 1 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm minutes before Squamosa’s stunning return to the track in Sydney.
Despite the long break between runs, Squamosa started the short favourite in the June Stakes and after jumping from barrier seven jockey Jim Cassidy allowed the colt to speed over to the fence.
Leading all the way, Squamosa pulled out a scintillating late burst on the straight and had too much class, the race a cakewalk for him as he went on to win by four lengths over the Joseph Pride-trained Lady’s Angel with Jest Crewsin’ in third.
The explosive success by Squamosa has the colt primed for bigger and better things during the spring.
“He is still only 75 to 80 per cent fit,” Waterhouse’s stable representative Bruce Slade said.
“We had been trying to get him fir for the Stradbroke but ran out of time when he couldn’t trial because of the wet tracks.”
The $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm this year was subsequently won by gun three-year-old Sincero.
Meanwhile, Squamosa will next attempt back-to-back stakes wins lining up in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on June 24.
“The Takeover Target at Gosford will be the next start and then there are plenty of other races later,” Slade confirmed.
“I couldn’t believe his gate speed even though Nash Rawiller said after he trialled him he had never ridden on that goes that quick early.
“He is a serious stallion prospect and it’s a great day also for Star Thoroughbreds with Tullamore winning in Brisbane.
“I’m excited for the spring.”
Cassidy, aboard for the June Stakes win, also tipped Squamosa as a potential Group 1 winner during the upcoming Sydney and Melbourne Spring Racing Carnivals.
“He’s frightening when he’s right,” Cassidy said.
“He’ll be going to Melbourne in the spring for sure and the sky’s the limit for him.”
In the previous race at Randwick, the Peter Snowden-trained Scarf added to the dream day for Darley.
Snowden and Darley combined in Brisbane to put the final piece of the puzzle in their juvenile, 2YO cleansweep this year with Benfica coming home first in the $500,000 TJ Smith (1600m).
Their stablemate, Lonhro three-year-old Scarf also saluted in their Saturday assignment with a strong win in the $70,000 Ultimate Security Handicap (1400m).
Carrying a hefty top-weight of 59kg, Scarf fought also overcame the far outside barrier on Saturday at Randwick to outclass his rivals and earn a trip to Queensland.
Snowden named the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) on July 2 as the next target for Scarf after their brave short-neck win over Next The Universe.
“He’s a lovely big horse and he’ll push onto Queensland now for a race at Caloundra,” Brad Widdup, Snowden’s Sydney stable foreman said.
“He’s a real winner this horse.
“He’s still doing a bit wrong , but that was a huge effort today.”
